Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-12
DRY STAND HELPS
HARDING IN DENVER
Colorado Will Demand Demo-
cratic Candidate Match His
Policy. Says Vile.
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

DENVER, Col, July Feast Is
east and west is west in American
politics today just as truly as when
kipling immortalized the sentiment
in connection with the mysterious
orient The further one penetrates
into the heart OF the country, where
men are men," the more deeply one
is impressed with the conviction that
the things that interest the people
east of the Mississippi only mod
erately appeal to the folks out here
They say the east is looking too
much toward the Atlantic, while they
In these parts are concerned almost
exclusively with the trials and tribu-
latlonS that are at hand and at their
own doorSteps. Hence, while there
is certain academic interest in such
issues as the league of nations, the
world court. separations. the Ruhr
and other international affairs, they
mean in fact hardly anything to the
average man and woman In midcon-
tfnental United States.
Chose Topic Wisely.
President Harding. therefore. was
wise in combining his Denver keynote
address to d topic that does engage
the thought of the Rocky Mountain
issue OF law enforcement are solidly
entrenChed in the virile west. Col
orddo passed a state ton law
In 1914. 1t became effective in 1916
and ever since has been a funda-
mental factor in the life of the CEN
t0nnial commonwealth
Immediately an inuuirer seeks to
ascertain the impression the 'Presi-
dent created at Denver assurance
IS Forthcoming that he undoubtedly
heightened his personal prestige and
that or the republican party by his
ringing advocacy of the dry cause.
Mr.. Harding is shrewd politician
He could not possibly have hit upon
a platform upon which to stand for
re-election in Colorado more secure
Finds State Bone Dry.
This is. politically, one of the most
mercurial states in the country. 1t
changes its party colors with chame-
Ieon-llke rapidity. 1t gave Woodrow
wilson a majority of $4,000 in 1916.
was carried by Harding by 10000 in
l92o, and elected a democratic gov
ernor by 5000 odd in 1922. If the
y. q. T.. is TO win Colorado in 1924
II at least is taking the safest and
longest step toward that goal by
mailing dry colors to its masthead.
No wet candidate on any ticket has
ghost of a show to carry Colorado
r.
can be bootlegged in the state. and is
The graveSt prohibition scandal Colo
RADIO has yet developed is just now
in the news The former federal pro-
hibition director of the state. re-
publican named McClenahan. is under
Indictment on charge conniyinE at
violations of the Nolstead act. In the
mining counties and in the farm re-
gionS moonShine and moonshiners are
not unknown. and. as elsewhere,
there's plenty of Illicit drinking
among the so-called better class of
citizens. But prohibition is believed
in by the people of the Rocky mount
aims with religious fervor.
State Also for McAdoO.
Thus. the President titled fertile
soil when he plowed through Colorado
on prohibition Nnes. If that were to
be the only national political issue
next year Mr.. Harding by his Denver
speech would have assured himself "a
probably invincible lead over any
rival a whit less dry than himself Mr..
McAdoo will have the democratic
delegation at his party's convention
in 1924, and. being a dry, too, would
give Mr.. Harding a spirited race on
the drink proposition in this state.
Meantime. to accomplish such result,
McAdoo would have to pledge Colo
radanS. to their face as effectively as
Mr.. Harding did, that he espouses pro-
hibition heart and soul. There is no
manner OF doubt that the president
left the state at the end of June
prime favorite on the one political
principle to which the mountain peo-
pie are irrevocably welded
Prohibition, unfortunately for the
President, is not the only thing
about which this western region
holds strong views. AS in Missouri
and Kansas, the personal economic
aspect of life is the all-dominating
thought and is likely to be the all
compelling motive when voting time
comes around in 1924. Externally
Colorado, as evidenced by it's me-
tropolis of Denver. is basking in the
good times manifest all over the
automobile universe known as the
United States. But prosperity is said
to be more apparent than real.
Farming Now Dominant.
The state no longer depends upon
its mining industry. Cripple Creek
and Leadville and the other camps of
song and story are mere shadows of
their former glory. The silver indus
try is in decay. There are only three