Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-14

theless. will add somewhat to his
strength there But how will 1t react
in the minds of the Southern drys?''
There can be no question" accord
ing to the Cleveland News dndepend-
ent Republican,, that Gov. Smith
showed candor, truth, courage and
other worthy qualities when he went
out OF his way to affirm his reputed
opposition to prohibition" The Scran-
ton Times Democratic) AYERS that
there will be no hair-splitting OF is
sues by him." and the Brooklyn
Daily Eagle independently suggests
that "hei spoke frankly because the &C.
casion required frankness, and those
within his own party who may regret
the freedom of his speech will have TO
make the best of it." The New York
Evening Post independently remarks
that sit is a grim comment upon the
hypocrisy of the present prohibition
situation that the whole country
stands almost in awe because lead
ing political figure dares to make such
obvious and incontrovertible deelara-
TONS"
1.-THE only thing in the least sensa-
tional about the address," in the judg-
ment of the New York Evening World
independently, sis that it reveals that
rarest of all things-an honest political
leader" The Youngstown indicator
Democratic) believes that the state
ment will be closely scanned as his
first announcement on prohibition
since he became the most-talked-of
candidate for the presidency. but no
one can doubt that 1t is sound or that
he means exactly what he says"
On the other hand, the reaction OF
| many advocates of the present pro-
hibition law is thus expressed by the
Richmond News-Leader independent
Democratic): mo party can live a lie,
and no man should try. But II Smith
does not get larger view of the coun-
try's wishes and of the party's needs;
if he holds strictly to the New York
view of prohibition: il he is willing to
concede nothing to dominant opinion
in the only part of the country that Is
certainly Democratic-he is increasing
the likelihood both of a personal de-
feat and of party catastrophe. the
Raleigh News and Observer Demo
cratic) says the statement had little
or no effect upon the body to which 1t
was addressed" and that "some papers
accept it as a declaration that Gov.
Smith would enforce the law, others
that it will give comfort to those who
are fighting prohibition. and others
that 1t really gives no clear indication
of Gov. Smiths attitude, if he should
be elected"
The Roanoke Times independent
Democratic) observes: IF AL Smith
were fighting fer the nomination half
as hard as lot Of folks are fighting
to keep 1t away from him, the Demo-
cratic contest would be hot and heavy.
But he seems perfectly content to re-
main on the job at Albany and let the
rocks as well as the chips fall where
they may"
The Kansas City Journal (Republl'
CAM believes that "he knows that
enough States oppose any action look
ing to notification or repeating the
eighteenth amendment to prevent his
nomination, under the two-thirds rulef
in Democratic national conventions.
Can it be possible" asks the Abb
lene Reporter independent Demo
cratic) 1.-THE governor has come to a
sense of the hopelessness of his presi-
Dental aspirations? Has he thrown
that hope overheard, and is ready now
to be identified with the wettest ele-
ments of his party? That is one inter
probation of his statement and 1t is
a logical one." The st. Louis Times
Republican,, recalling that 'he STANDS
as firmly as rock for the enforce
ment of all laws. but sees no reason
why any group of voters should not
oppose the Federal prohibition stat-
utes." makes the comment. so the
good ladies went away with the qua
taste in their mouths which schooF
girls were wont to allude to as pruneS
and pfisms."