Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-08
HARDING To ENTER
NEXT CAMPAIGN AS
100 PER CENT DRY
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal
(Conyri01t 1909

l
WASHINGTON, May 5.-President
Harding will enter his campaign for
denomination and reelection 100
per cent dry
Evidence Of the complete swing
Of the president to the "dry" side
of the prohibition controversy as it
may affect his own political for
tune or those of the national Re-
publican party has been accumu-
lating, but not until this week was
convincing proof given of the presi-
dents leanings.
When the supreme court of the
United States decided that Ameri'
can ships could sell liquor outside
the three-mile limit until a law of
congress prohibits it, the chief eX-
ecutive had it in his power to re-
woke the instructions given original
ly to the United States shipping board
to cease selling liquor. His first or
ders were issued when the legal
phases of the matter were in doubt
and it was natural for the president
" sup the pIdCl1CS uIlA d uSC4SLOA
had been reached.
The Die Is Cast
Now, however, the decision has
been made. 1t is lawful to sell
liquor outside the three-mile limit,
Congress can act but hasn't. At
least eight months must elapse be-
fore the Iawmaking branch of the
i -,
it might take even longer than that
to get action on any bill to pro-
hibit the sale of liquor on govern.
ment ships for this kind of meas.
ure would not be passed without
considerable debate, especially on
the economic disadvantages of put
ting American ships on an unequal
basis with vessels flying foreign
flags.
The president made up his mind
to keep the American ships dry"
Just what actuated him in his de-
cision is not, of course, being eX-
planned publicly, but it was the first
case in which Mr.. Harding could
have granted the ''wets" a point if
he had been disposed to keep free
from the controversy and take the
position that congress alone could
bring about modification in the eX-
listing situation, both with respect
to the eighteenth amendment and
the Volstead law.
Mr.. Harding feels that America
is committed OF the dry side Of the
argument by constitutional amend.
ment and that it is his duty to carry
out the spirit as well as the letter
Of the federal constitution which his
oath of office requires him to up
hold. So long, as the eighteenth
amendment is in the constitution
Mr.. Harding is not likely to take
the initiative in offering any sugges-
tons for the modification of the
Volstead act or any other measure
which even remotely conflicts with
the spirit of the amendment.
Leaves Beer to Foes
If the Democrats want to take
the wet" side of the controversy,
they are welcome to it-Mr. Har.
ding will not. In his 1920 campaign
he declared for law enforcement. but
did not discuss the subject in de-
tail If called upon in the next cam
paign, however, to defend the rec
ord of enforcement and the plans
for further enforcement of existing
law, the executive will be found
ready to take up the challenge.
There is reason to believe, however,
that the Anti-Saloon league and
other dry organizations are we'll
pleased with Mr.. Harding's position
and that they will give him their
fullest support, particularly if there
JS h. eli ~5r,11 II,
Democratic platform or nominee for
the presidency.
The "drys" have wanted the ad-
ministration to be more efficient
about stopping the rum runners and
IT, ey have encountered all sorts or
red tape, but at last they have made
an impression on the president and
the plans now in the making will
mean as rigid enforcement as the
resources of the government can
bring about. All doubt about MI
Harding's attitude is removable
is absolutely committed to the dry
side and will not waver.
The Democrats, on the other hand,
have been talking a good deal about
the chances Of capitalizing the wet
sentiment in such states as New
York, New Jersey and Massa-
chusetts, Indiana and other popu-
lous sections of the country where
the electoral vote is big and when
combined with the electoral votes
of the south, may furnish the needed
majority to WIN The Democratic
wet" advocates are not thinking of
advocating the absolute repeal of
the eighteenth amendment but a
| modification of the Volstead act to
permit light wines and beer
Might Split Democrats
The assumption is that the solid
south would stay in the Democratic
fold, particularly as the question of
retaining a higher alcoholic con-
tent would be left to each state to
decide-this is the plan the wet
leaders have evolved to appeal to
state rights sentiment, which Is
traditional Democratic doctrine,
anyhow. If the south stayed Demo-
cratic and a few northern wet
states were captured, a Democratic
nominee would be insured a vic
tory.
Opposed to this is the contention
of the 'drys" that William Jennings
Bryan and his followers would
desert the party under such circum-
stances and that the normal Demo
cratic vote would not be cast in the
northern states where the issue
would have to be decided The
''wets" think they would acquire
enough Republican moist votes to
offset losses.
The big development, however, is
that Mr.. Harding takes the dry
Size. Will the Democrats take the
other? The leaders of Democracy
are talking earnestly about it every
day but at the White House they
fon1 tIo,-o ~, A