Evening star., 1927-10-01
REVIVED LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
!, CAN WIN, UNDERWOOD HOLDS
Former Senator Calls for
Nominee Favoring Repeal
of Dry Amendment.
Organized Prohibition Forces
Essentially Republican.
Law UnenforceabIe.
BY ROBERT BARRY.


The Democratic party came into
being as the great liberal party.
When it has been faithful to its
dedication it has been triumphant.
A Democratic nominee in 1928,
standing foursquare and honestly for
constitutional amendment to repeal
the eighteenth amendment. will rally
the liberal forces of this country to his
banner and he will be elected
A dry Democrat opposing a dry Re
publican can get nowhere by the very
nature of things, and the Democratic
party must sacrifice the liberal
strength and sooner or later pave the
way for the organization in the United
States of a real and powerful liberal
party.
These are the views of Oscar w.
Underwood of Alabama, former Sena-
tor, floor leader of his party in both
Senate and House, and several times
the choice of thousands of Democrats
for the presidency.
II am out of politics." he explained.
'I intend to stay out. These are,
therefore, what might be termed views
from afar.'
Always Opposed Prohibition.
Senator Underwood was seated on
below Mount Vernon in Virginia.
Woodlawn Manor, the gift of Gen.
Washington to Nellie Parke CuStis
Lewis. Below him stretched fields eX-
tending to the Potomac River. Mount
Vernon was but one and q half miles
distant by airplane. Fort Humphreys
was just below.
Il am happy here after the turmoil
of 81 years in politics" Mr.. Under
wood added, "but naturally / yield
none of my affection for my party nor
my hopes nor my interest in it's future.
Il suppose my views on the subject
you mention would be put down as
prejudiced. Maybe they are. I have
always opposed national prohibition
through the process of constitutional
amendment. l said from the very out
set 1t would cause us trouble. 1t
should have been left to the States
lit cannot be said we have closed the
national purse to proper enforcement.
I'VE have poured out millions of
dollars.
Holds Law UnenfOrceable.
"Now, If 1t be said that the eight
nenth amendment is enforceable, and
We all know that almost any man
can get a drink if he wants it badly
enough, and we have spent millions
in the attempt at enforcement, then
you must impeach the integrity of
the men who have been responsible
for its enforcement during the past
10 years. I refuse to do that. Here
and there some agents may have gone
wrong, but, by and large, honest and
sincere, and in most instances capa
BILE, men have tried and failed, and
their failure is no reflection on their
Integrity.
81 make this explanation of my
view because we may as well have
1t understood in advance that 1 was
opposed to the eighteenth amendment.
Capt. Hobson and 1 fought that out
in 1914 and Alabama voted $4,000 ma
jority for me. 1 stood as presiden-
fial candidate on the same issue in
1924 and Alabama Democrats indorsed
my stand by 10000"
do you intend by that to deny the
reputed overwhelming dryness of the
South politically?" he was urged.
mot at ALL" Senator Underwood re-
piled. "What I am coming to is this:
E.The Anti.Saloon League is the most
lpowerful organized group in this
country. Mind, I say organized
group. 1t is essentially a Northern
and a Republican organization. For
years its members have been prohi-
ftllIOH duVOCdtcS III the NOTIneFu
States and ALMOST invariably they
have been Republicans. They have
been and are, moreover, Republicans
who need not be expected ever to vote
for any dry Democrat.
Liberals Sinew of Party.
"The religious and ethical affilia.
dions between those dry Republicans
an the North and East and the dry
democrats in the South are such as
to reveal them akin in every thought
Of religion and politics.
Now, outside Of those groups we
have a great liberal force in this
country which has refused consistent
1y to align itself spiritually with those
groups, and in the North and East
that liberal force constitutes the
backbone and the sinew Of the Demo
cratic party.
"No manner of Misrepresentation
convinces that group Of thinking
men and women that the eighteenth
amendment is being enforced. They
know we have notification in many
States and in sections Of others. We
have enforcement only where there is
local or community sentiment for 1t.
Knowing that, I believe the submis-
SPECIAL NOTICES.