Evening star., 1926-11-14
COPELAND TO HELP
VETS IN CONGRESS
New York Senator Says Ref
erendum Vote Is Mandate
for Him to Obey.

One Of the first tangible results Of
the wet victory in the New York
State referendum is an announce
ment by Senator Royal 8. Copeland
that he regards the vote in that
referendum as a mandate to him to
do all he can to bring about modi-
fication of the Volstead act.
This Is the first time since he was
elected to the Senate in 1922. that
Senator Copeland has indicated his
position on the liquor question. In
that election, he defeated Senator
Calder. wet Republican, and in
many dry Republicans. By many
persons 1t was assumed that Senator
Copeland was inclined to be dry. If
he was not actually dry.
During his service in the Senate
he has not been called upon to vote
wet or dry. But he has not hitherto
Joined with the wet group in the
Senate demanding modification of
the Volstead act. His present state
ment, however, shows that in the
coming session Of Congress he will
be aligned with the Senators who
have been leading the fight for a
revision of the Volstead act.
Accepts Voters Decision.
."T accept the decision Of the voters
in the referendum as a mandate"
Senator Copeland said before leav-
ing here for Michigan to visit his
father. "and consider 1t my duty to
assist the campaign Of the Senators
who have been leading the fight for
modification"
The vote on the prohibition question.
according to the Senator, was remark
cble In that only 13 counties returned
pluralities In opposition to modifica-'
ton. Irrespective Of whether all citi.
zens voted or not, the conclusion is
inescapable. he said, that there is an
overwhelming sentiment in the EN-.
pire State for a change in the law
and he proposes to do what he can
to bring It about.
Aside from that, Senator Copeland
announced that one Of his main tasks
In the next two years will be to bring
about the nomination on the Demo.
cratic ticket and election Of Gov. AL
fred e. Smith as President of the
United States. The Senator says the
result Of the gubernatortal vote in the
State puts Smith into the preferred
position for this Office and his claims
cannot be denied.
Sees Candidacy Advanced.
"Everywhere," he went on. This
victory has caused his candidacy to
be accepted with a degree of serious
ness which has not hitherto been at
tached to It. and the plain fact is that
you can't get away from the signifl-
canoe of the victory in relation to his
nomination for the presidency"
DR.. Copeland, who after March 4.
will be the senior United States Sena.
tor from New York, expects to have
the assistance Of Senator-elect Robert
F. Wagner. in promoting the candi-
dacy of Gov. Smith, after his arrival
in the Capital. That will not be for
some time, however.
There is some significance seen,
also, in Senator Copeland's announce.
ment relative to the Smith candidacy.
For a long time many Of the Smith
people have suspected that the Sena-
tor had ambitions which might en-
danger those Of the governor. In fact,
some of his friends, during the 1924
convention, were putting him forward
as a compromise candidate. That and
other developments, chiefly the effort
of the Senator to bring about reor-
ganization Of the Democratic party
upstate, led to some feeling between
the two elements.
ever, Senator Copeland supported ac-
lively Gov. Smith and Judge Wag.
ner.
Senator Copeland may be opposed
for reelection two years hence by
Senator James w. Wadsworth, jr.,
recently defeated by Robert F. Wag-
ner, Democrat. Senator Wadsworth
has SO far made no announcement OF
his plans for the future. The 1923
senatorial election, however, may give
him an early opportunity to attempt
to stage a political comeback. He will
have the advantage Of running in a.
presidential year, when the Republic
ans usually vote strongly in New
York. If Gov. Al Smith fails to be the
Democratic nominee, 1t would appear
that any candidate the Republicans
put up for President would carry the
State, and Wadsworth, If he be norni-
mated, along with him.