The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-12

LOCAL ISSUE
CHIEFS SAY
Republican Leaders in East .
Find Harding With
Deaf Ears,
By JOHN CARSON
Times staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, June 12.-Prohi-
bition, like the tariff, is local ques-
ton, Republican leaders in eastern
States are dining into the ears of
President Harding. But the ears of
the President are deaf.
Bitter feeling runs strong against
the President in these eastern States.
The dry policy. enunciated by the
White House on every opportunity. is
cause enough. But in addition, the
charge is now made openly that the
President is playing Ohio politics. to
protect himself and not worrying over
the State problems of Senator's.
Massachusetts. New York. New
Jersey. Rhode Island and Maryland
have already rebelled, in so far as
the Republican leaders can voice rebel
lion. The sole aim Of the Republicans
in those States is TO make it clear
the party is not led by men who are
dry or who are Influenced by the
Anti-Saloon League
Fear Wet Issue
In Connecticut. Pennsylvania. iii
nois and Wisconsin there is more
than a little fear in Republican ranks
over the wet issue. The Republican
leaders in the Senate insist they
would not he surprised to see Repub-
lean candidates suffer a year from
next November because of the Presi-
dents Ohio policy"
In Indiana. Iowa and Colorado.
there is no fear expressed. But eco
romic issues will cause the Repub
leans worry
Senator Edge in New Jersey has
taken prohibition enforcement away
from the Anti Saloon League and has
announced emphatically his opposi-
:ion TO the Volstead law.
Senator Wadsworth and Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy Roosevelt have
performed similarly in New York to
make the State organization wet.
Although Governor Pinchot in
Pennsylvania is dry. Senator Reed is
wet and the Republican State organ
ization is wet enough to openly fight
Pinchot
New Jersey Republicans always
have been recaIcitrant on the law.
Maryland Is Wet
The Maryland Republican organiza-
ton is wet and decidedly So. notwith-
standing an effort on the part Of some
to make it dry. Senator Weller, the
boss of the party there. is wet, votes
wet and announces he will continue
to vote wet
The Democrats can nominate a
dry candidate for President" sug
eested one prominent Republican lead
er. Suppose. for instance. they'd
nominate Ralston in Indiana. He is
dry enough in sentiment, in fact, in
record. to suit any one. The drys
could not attack him. They might
save some votes for Harding, but
they'd not take any Democratic dry
votes away from Ralston.
well. Ralston could make his cam
paign in the Middle West and West
on economic issues. He has a record
for economy. you know. He could
swing through the East talking tariff. e
taxation. high cost of living. He
would not have to mention prohibition
and if he was forced, he could let it
he known that he was strong for law
enforcement and a dry.
Would Hold New York
well in New York. the State Or
ganization would keep all the liberal
sentiment there for him. In New
Jersey and the other wet States the
same thing would happen
This IS the argument made to Presi-
dent Harding and members Of his
Cabinet and some members of the
Cabinet have agreed with it. But
Attorney General Daugherty thought
otherwise and the President agreed
with Daugherty. So the President IS
committed to make his next campaign
as dry. He has courageously &C
cepted that position. 1t took courage
TO do it because he had warning of a
rebellion in the ranks at the very
start.