The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-03-09
". !. BRYAN DOES KORATIO
ACT AGAINST WET HORDES
Eloquent Commoner Highly Re-
solves No Wet Plank in DEM
ocratic 1924 Platform.
HEAVY CRAP FAD
Bryan Asserts Public Sentiment
Overwhelmingly in Favor
of Dry Candidate.

! William Jennings Bryan has thrown
dovr the guage OF battle against efforts
OF the liquor interests to insure a wet
plank in the Democratic platform OF
1914 says a special Washington dis
patch of February p in the Christian
/ Sc:ence Monitor. "He believes .Ameri-
can sentiment is Overwhelmingly dry
ard that his party should name dry
| for President and go before the nation
pledged to enforce strictly the Pro-
hifition laws. Mr.. Bryan is in Wash
ingion consulting Democratic leaders in
/ a series of conferences which have been
increasing as the presidential campaign
appi caches. His stand OH the liquor
question in the campaign as given in an
exclusive interview with the Christian
! Science Monitor. was taken as the first
rambling OF an impending contest in the
/ Democratic Party over the question OF
standing for the Constitution or nullih-
cation OF it. w. Bourkt Cochran, Dem
/ oc ATTIC Representative from New York,
arc other avowed vets from New York.
New Jersey and Massachusetts, and
other wet centers. have announced their
purpose to present a wet plank in the
Democratic convention and to urge the
naming Of wet candidate The drys
i'll the party are rallying around Mr.
Bryan. Urging vigorous enforcement
of the Prohibition enforcement laws
now. Mr. Bryan said enforcement would
mirmize The liquor question in the cam
pa gn.'
L. the opinion OF Mr. Bryan the
plank into the platform. He bases this
opinion OH the fact that the Democratic
Party in the last campaign lodged the
issae and I'VE are not so liable TO be de-
ceiN ed this time by wet promises like
W. were two years ago The things that
transpire between now and convention
time may tend to increase or decrease
the liquor question:
Nj. Bryan continued:
If the next Congress which is
overwhelmingly dry, requests those
who stocked up on liquor before the
Prohibition law went into effect to
fle list OF the liquor they have
ard make the list open to public in
speetion, the country will get rid of
Two objections we have now to meet
One is the boasts of those who now
rake light of the law. and the other
is the complaint of poor people that
they were Disseminated against by
the law.
| would recommend that Congress
pass resolutions asking the Presi-
dent of the United States to protest
against the use of foreign flags to
protect the floating bars that are
operating just outside the three
mile limit
1t will raise an issue that can be
settled in only one way, viz, putting
an end to the atten1p, OF wet nations
to force liquor on the United States
Mr.. Bryan expressed the view that
this country would be acting quite with
in its right in going beyond the three
mile limit for rum runners, but as a
first step be would make all open appeal
to other nations to prevent ships under
their flags from tryin.; to break down
the laws qf America
Asked what he would do in case wet
nations did not do anything to stop this
attack upon American sovereignty, Mr..
Bryan replied:
1t is not necessary to answer
hypothetical questions The situation
can be met as it arises. But it is
safe to assume tina, nation like
the United States can not be treated
as was China in the opium war.
The three-mle limit was not in
tended ior outlaws but for protee-
ton OF legitimate commerce. Liquor
smugglcrs come under the law
against piracy which is not limited
by lines drawn through the ocean.