The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-01
SOME POLITICAL PROGNOSTI-
CATIONS

Samuel s. Koenig is president of the New York
County Republican Committee and Of the leading
Republicans in New York State. He says that the
defeat Of U. S. Senator Wadsworth means that the
vets licked.
Wadsworth was a Republican, but also a fearless
wet. He was one Of the ablest of the Old Guard
Senators. He also boss of the Republican
ganization in the State. Running against him in the
late campaign was Robert Wagner, Tammany
Democrat and avowed wet. In order to punish
Wadsworth for not obeying orders of the AntSaloon
League, the dry Republicans put an independent Re-
publican dry candidate in the field against Wadsworth
The result the election Of the Democratic and
The defeat of the Republican wet
drys made no gain, because the wet Tammany
candidate elected. But they defeated Wadsworth
The purpose to convince other Republicans that
whoever defies the bosses Of the AntSaloon League
is doomed.
From on, says Koeng. the vets must depend
upon the Democratic party for revision of the vostead
law and the Democratic Solid South Is dry and will
remain dry Hence, he argues, the wet is lost;
at least for years to come.
On the face of it, there is something his argu-
ment. 1t all depends upon whether the clerical Re-
publican politicians from Ohio who control the Anti
Saloon League keep the tight grip on the Demo-
cratic party in the South that they have had during
the past two Democratic national conventions If
they hold their grip through the Methodist and
Baptist churches which the strongest in the
southern States, then nobody but prohibition Demo-
crat be nominated in the next Democratic national
convention.
If the defeat Of wadsworth frightened other Re-
publican vets, then the chances that the Anti
Prohibition and Public Morals will dictate Re
publican nomination and write prohibition into the
platform. If they control both party conventions,
they will wn Of course; for there is little chance
for third party.
In the catanddog fight at Madison Square Garden
in 1924, something 800 votes in the Democratic
national convention controlled, directly or in
directly through the Ku-Kux Khan, by the Anti
Saloon League. Getting back of McAdoo they had
enough votes to prevent the nomination of Governor
AL Smith; the election the Demo-
oblivion.
Inspired to renewed activity by their defeat of
Senator Wadsworth in New York, the shrewd politi-
clans of the AntSaloon League have mapped out
program which contemplates control of both party
national conventions and dication of the presidential
nominees If this happens, the Republican candidates
will be elected for the AntSaoon League generally
winds up the Republican side election day,
when both candidates satisfactory. To play their
presidential game successfully they don't need the
Democrats after the nominations made.
So Koenig's analysis is sound unless the unex-
pected happens and the Democrats of the South get
away from Wayne Wheeler. The pity of it is that
National elections should be determined on the one
ISSUE However, We'll have to put up with it until
get this prohibiting thing out of our system one
the other, until Big Business quits backing
the Anti-Saloon League lobby financially.