Evening star., 1926-10-03
WET AND DDRY ISSUE IS SHOWING
PARTISAN POLITICS TO REAR

support. and his Democratic opponent.
Ray Baker. has not definitely an
nounced his position on the liquor
question, 1t Is said here.
In Oregon, Steiwer, the regular Re-
publican nominee for the Senate. and
Haney, the Democratic nominee, are
both regarded as dry. while Senator
Stanfield. who is seeking to run as an
independent Republican, Is opposed as
wet
In Arizona, Representative Hayden
the Democratic nominee for the Sen
ate. has been an active dry, while
the drys are still waiting 10 hear
from his opponent. Senator Cameron,
the Republican nominee.
In Massachusetts. Senator William
NJ. Butler, Republican. is confronted
by a determined wet. former Senator
David l. Walsh Senator Butler has
not declared in detail his position on
the liquor question, but the Republ!-
can State platform has declared for
law enforcement. Two years ago
there was referendum. the voters
authorizing the enactment OF State
enforcement act hut by the close vote
Of 45465s to 44s473. This vas close
enough. and the reports from Massa-
chusetts are to the effect that wet
sentiment has gained there in the last
year or two. This, OF course. is de-
MED by the drys.
In Maryland a vet stands to be
elected to the Senate whether Sen2-
tor Weller, Republican, succeeds him
self or his Democratic opponent, Rep
resentative Tydings, is elected in his
place. However. Weller may receive
considerable dry support, which Went
to him in his race against Representa-
tive John Philip Hill, for the Republl'
can nomination
Wet Gain in Wisconsin.
IN Wisconsin the vets in all proba'
bility are to gain Senator. Gov. j.
]. Blaine, a vet. defeated Senator
Lenroot, a dry. for the Republican
nomination. and Blaine's election
seems assured.
There are half a hundred congress
sional districts or more in which the
wet and dry issue Is playing a part
IN the election of members OF the
House. For example, in Ohio. Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald. dry Republican. Is
opposed by T. A. NcCann, wet
Democrat, and Representative Davey.
q. dry Democrat, is opposed by a wet
Republican. Sweeney. RepresentauVe
Free in Michigan. a. dry Republican
is fighting it out with a wet Demo
crat. Sheehy, and Representative Ed
ward King Of Illinois, dry Republican J.
is opposed by wet Democrat. F. W.
Heckenkarnp. Two Illinois Congress-
men at large. Rathbone and Yates,
both drys and Republicans. are op-
posed by two wet Democrats, Frank
J. Wise ana Charles A. March
/ OF the 394 members Of the House
who have been renominated, 295 have
voted dry, and 50 voted wet. OF IL
new nominees u are wet and non
conamital.
In both Senate and House it appears
that the vets will make some gains.
But the majority in both houses Will
still be strongly held by the drys.
Generally speaking. Republican State
platforms have failed to indorse the
wet end of this issue, although the
New York platform attempts to give
comfort to the vets as we'll as to the
drys. That platform declares for en-
forcement Of the prohibition laws as
long as they are on the statute books
and at the same time urges the voters
to participate In the wet and dry refer
endum. It does not, however, urge
them to vote wet, nor does 1t pledge
the Republican party to abide by the
results of the referendum. In Mary
land. the Republican platform, pledges
its gubernatorial candidate to the en-
forcement of the prohibition law,
though it is not so specific regarding
Senator Weller, the candidate for the
Senate
Democratic platforms adopted in
several States are frankly wet. This
is true of the party platforms in Con-
necticut. Massachusetts, Maryland and
New York.