Evening star., 1926-03-07

final desperate effort, which will sub
side and peter out, leaving the former
stronger than ever, with enforcement
more and more effective.
But the "wets" are no less insistent
that the pendulum is swinging their
way. And they point to the increas-
ing number of men who are throwing
down the gauntlet to the ''drys" by
announcing their candidacy for office
on a straight out wet plank.
The wet leaders in the House to-
day count 172 members who they say
would vote for a modification of the
Volstead act. The estimate made by
the dryS, however. gives the moditi-
cationists far less strength. A
phrase has been coined by the 'wets"
which they apply in distinguishing
between members of the House
those who are politically wet" They
mean that members 50 designated are
willing to vote wet" as well as drink
wet" They also have a phrase
those who are politically dry" In
tending to designate men who vote
dry but do not practice strict pro-
hibition themselves.
Lively Fight Promised.
If Mr.. Ware announces his candi-
dacy on a "wet" platform against Sen
ator Pepper, there promises to be a
lively fight in Pennsylvania. Politi-
cal observers say that the vote Of the
entire State would show q slight ma
jority for the "drys." But If Mr..
Ware goes into the race, he is likely
to have two dry candidates dividing
the opposition, Gov. Pinchot, who il
the dry" leader of the State, and
Senator Pepper. But there is consid-
cradle doubt as to whether Mr.. Ware
or Gov. Pinchot would be the greater
beneficiary by such a three-cornered
race 1t may we'll be that Gov. Pin
chot would gain because of the split
in the ranks, which have uniformly
opposed him, between Senator Pepper
and Mr.. Ware. Senator Pepper has
the support of the MELONS and tkN
which has been strongly
and Mr.. Ware will have
the wet element, which has always
been violently opposed to the gov
ernor.
In some quarters the belief per
sists, however, that Mr. Ware is not
going through with his candidacy
for the Senate; that a deal will be
made by the political forces which
will give him what he wants and he
will step aside and leave the field
open to Senator Pepper. Mr.. Ware,
IL is believed would like to have
something to say about who is to be
governor and who the Republican
national committeeman for Pennsyl-
vania, an office now held by Senator
Pepper.
Pinchot and Ware Watching.
Senator Pepper is the only one of
the three who has actually announced
for the senatorial nomination. Gov.
pinchot and Mr.. Ware both seem to
be watching the others movements
and jockeying for position. If Mr..
Ware announces, the supporters of
the governor will hold that he has a
better chance to win the nomination.
1t seems doubtful that Mr.. Ware
would announce himself candidate
If the governor does not enter the
race. though he might If he does not
get what he wants in the meantime.
In a duel between Senator Pepper
and the governor prediction is gener-
ally made that the victor would be
Senator Pepper.
The time has not been long past
when New Jersey was the only State
in which candidates with a real hope
of election in a Statewide contest ran
only on a wet" platform. New Jersey
has Two wet senators today, Sen
ators Edge, Republican, and Edwards,
Democrat. 1t has wet" governor.
The New Jersey senators are now
strongly urging the judiciary com
mittee to give them hearings on pro-
posals to modify the Nolstead law.
particularly so that wine and beer
NAV be used for beverage purposes
in this country.
Enforcement Law Made Target.
Candidates in other States were
known to be wet" in their sentiments
as in New York-but they did not
run on platforms demanding a modi-
fication of the enforcement law. Rather
thew were content to declare for law
enforcement. a declaration which has
sometimes been DISTINGUISHED from
that OF a candidate who runs on a
strictly prohibition platform.
The results in the coming congress
sional primaries and elections may
have their effect upon the national
campaign in 1928. Should the "wets'
gain any signal victories it is easy to
understand there will be strong pres
sure to make modification of the Vol
stead act an issue in the presidential
Campaign. The election of Mr.. Bren-
nan in Illinois, for example, would
give such a program great boost.
The prohibitionists will not over
look these possibilities. They are out
to win and by as big majorities as
they can, and hope in this campaign
to lay effectually the ghost of John
Barleycorn.