Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-10
P|NCHOT'S BOOM
FOR PRESIDENCY
IS HIT BY ''DRYS'
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(LeasEd Wire Service TO The Journal.

Copyright. 1929
WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-StraWs
which show which way the national
winds of politics may be blowing are
too few today to draw any worth
while conclusions, and while the
Headquarters of both the major par.
ties profess to find satisfaction in
what has happened, there are only
a few things significant in Tuesday s
elections.
First, the expectation of the "dry'
forces that New York state would
punish the Democrats for repeating
the state enforcement law on prohi-
bition was to some extent fulfilled,
IS the Democrats lost seven members
and the Republicans retained con
troll.
Second, the wet" sentiment
showed itself as strong as ever in
The state Of Maryland, ,whero Gov
ernor Ritchie was reelected by an
overwhelming majority. Both can
didates were wet" hut Mr.. Richie
was wet enough to earn the indorse-
ment of the Association Opposed to
Prohibition amendment.
Third. Kentucky came back into
the Democratic fold by turning out
its Republican governor. James M.
Cox, Democratic nominee for the
presidency in 1920, campaigned ac-
lively in Kentucky this year and the
final vote showed that the state went
Democratic by an even greater vote
than it cast in 1920.
Fourth, the special elections to con-
gress were about a stand-off, neither
party, making any substantial head
way, and the contests were so local
in character that national signifi
canoe can hardly be attached to
them.
PinchOt Boom Hit
Far more important, however, in
the realm of national politics Tues
day than any election that was held
was the puncturing of Governor Gift
ford Pinchot's boom for the Repub
lican presidential nomination. He
had started out to make an issue of
prohibition, contending that Presj-
dent Coolidge and Secretary Mellon
We're not enforcing the Volstead law
as effectively as they could. Fer sew
eral days Mr.. Pinchot's charges have
been occupying Washington's atten-
ton, particularly the statement that
Secretary Mellon was obstructing en-
forcement of the law Mr.. Mellon
halls from Pennsylvania and will
have a good deal to say about the
delegation from the keystone state
to the national conception.
Now comes Wayne B. Wheeler,
Of ~
league and the acknowledged leader
of the "dry forces" in America, with
a statement indorsing not only Pres
ident Coolidge's efforts to enforce
prohibition but putting the stamp of
approval on Secretary Mellon, too.
MI. Wheeler says if the states will
only do as much as the federal gov
eminent has done, all will be we'll.
This is interpreted as meaning that
even if Governor PinchOt himself
would use his state power he would
get better results in Pennsylvania.
But the most dramatic develop
ment is the willingness of the Anti
Saloon league to swap Mr.. Pinchot
Anti-Saloon league will be behind the
for Mr.. Coolidge. The support Of the
Anti-Saloon league to the national
administration is important political
ly and, if, as is again and again ru-
mored, the Democrats name wet"
candidate the entire strength of the
Republican presidential nominee.
Chances Diminished
When Governor Pinchot came to
Washington and presided over the
citizenship conference on prohibition
is was generally believed the "dry"
forces were using the Pinchot bar
rage as d means of bringing Presi-
dent Coolidge and Secretary Mellon
into closer harmony with the Anti
Saloon league program. This having
been accomplished. the "drys" think
more is to be gained by upholding
the federal administration than by
fighting it.
Governor PinchOt's political boom
was based largely on the idea that
the national administration wasn't
dry enough. 1t looked for awhile as
if he might capture the leadership,
politically, of the dry" forces in
America. The maneuver by Wayne
Wheeler has checkmated that ambi.
ton and in the opinion of most OBJ
servers has deprived Mr.. Pinchot of
his principal issue for fight against
the Republican executive in the
White House. He may turn to the
old time controversy between the So
called "Progressives' and reaction.
aries" but having suffered a defeat
on prohibition, his chances today ar
considered to have been diminished
by the little statement from the head
n1I9 rtpr.S Of thu Saloon cr,,o