Evening star., 1923-06-02
WET ISSUE IS TIED.
T0PARTY BY SMITH
Considered in Line for Demo-
cratic Nomination on Anti
Dry Platform.
By n. O. MESSENGER.

Gov. Smith of New York, in sug
gestions In memorandum made
public when he signed the bill re-
pealing the prohibition enforcement
law of the state, is classed as hav
ing definitely injected the prohibition
question into politics, looking to the
next presidential campaign. Further
more, he will. it is said by the
politicians, unless he makes dis
claimer. be regarded as a potential
candidate for the presidential nomina-
tion on the democratic ticket, with
his platform made known in advance.
namely. modification of the Volstead
act and broadening the power of the
states to define Intoxicating liquors
within their own borders.
The first question which democrats
are likely to take under considera-
tion is, what will be the effect of his
action upon public sentiment as to
neither he voices the thought likely
partys National piatfoam! In OF othee hee
words, will he be regarded as assum-
ing the leadership of the ''wets" and.
by virtue of his great Official position,
tacking modification of the prohibi-
lioii law " Tie party
G. o. p. Firmly Dry.
Republicans will be glad. for polit-
ical effect, that he signed the re-
pealer and came out in such un-
equivocal terms for modification of
the prohibitiat law. for the leader
ship in the republican party is con-
vinced that the republican national
convention will not event "squint"
toward an attack upon the Volstead
act. The republican party, it is said.
will be recognized as taking the
'tdry" end of the issue between the
vets and the drys.
There are varying opinions among
democrats as to whether Gov. Smith
has forwarded or lessened the
chances of his nomination by the demo-
cratic national convention-assuming
that he has presidential aspirations,
upon which point he has thus far
given no indication. Some demo-
Gratis maintain that the party as a
whole will be endangered If the
Smith is seeking to attach 1T to the
wet program.
Seen AS Asset. !.
Others hold that as his wet atti-
tude was responsible for his over
whelming majority in the elections
Of last November, he will. with his
known opinions, be an asset rather
than a drawback as a presidential NOM
inee.
While discussing these considera-
tions the politicians do not lose sight
of the certainty that tremendous i'm
petus has been given to the move
ment which has started and will take
larger form with the beginning of
the next Congress to modify the Vol
stead act and that the vets and drys
will come to clinches In Congress on
the eve of the selection of delegates
to the national convention. Some
to chose delegates for the conven-
tions to be held in June.
Drys Plan Campaign.
The drys are expected to begin to
reform their lines at once, in antici-
patton of the fight to come on in De-
cember The Anti-Saloon League, of
course. will bear the brunt of the
organized fight against modification,
and Gov. Smiths action is thought
to have given a new lease of life to
that organization.
The drys. are understood to expect
that "a terrible example" will be fur
nished by the anticipated immense in
crease in the distribution of liquors
to follow the letting down of such re-
striction of smuggling by the state
and 1t cannot be said 1T was very
much, at that, and that this will be
water over their wheel in their, de-
mand for support.