New Britain herald., 1927-02-09
PROHIBITION IS
 NATIONAL FIGHT
Likely to Be Injected Into 1928
 Campaign

Washington, Feb. g (UP)-Prohl- bition is rising as political issue to plague the republican as we'll as the democratic national convention next year.
 A survey of sentiment among re- publican leaders made today by the United Press after the warning of Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia university, that the is- sue must be met, developed the fol- lowing:
 1. Both drys and vets in the re- publican ranks intend to fight out the prohibition issue in nominating a presidential candidate in 1928.
 2. The proposal of Senator Borah. republican, Idaho. for what would amount to a party referendum on the question before the convention meets, has found little favor with either republican dry or wet leaders.
 3. Republican drys are talking of drafting" President Coolidge for another term so that the party may not be split by any fight which now appears to be developing over the issue.
 The attitude of republican drys was expressed by Senator Fess, re- publican, Ohio. who said: "The Borah plan for election of conven- ton delegates is impractical but the party should and will meet the pro- hibition issue vigorously next year. We must show that there has been no backward step since our strong prohibition blanks in the platforms of 1920 and 1924"
 Senator Wadsworth, republican, New York. who may speak for the vets: "The suggestion of Senator Borah would be impossible to carry out, because no man for public of- fee is elected upon one single issue, no matter how important it is. The republican party. however, must meet the issue."
 The statement of Butler was ac- cepted here as placing him in a po- sition to accept wet leadership in the party as a presidential candidate himself. The prompt letter written by Borah to Butler accepting Buffers challenge on the issue and suggest ing plan for a party referendum, further accentuated the movement of some drys to advance Borah as candidate, in case President Cool idge decides not to run-thus pitting Borah against Butler.
 Meanwhile, MT. Coolidge sits in the White House apparently impervious to the prohibition talk and Buffers assertion that he will not seek an- other term.
 Buffers plea for party action against prohibition met vigorous re- sponse from Senator Willis. republi- can. Ohio, who made known his op- position to Buffers candidacy in the following. His political prophecies are worthless as has been shown in the past. His statements in the past have been seized upon by lawbreak- CTS who under q cloak of respecta- bility seek justification for a bad cause The country won't leave a grease spot of any party which fol- lows his leadership"
 The prohibition blow-up came simultaneously with another bid from former Governor Frank Low den, Illinois, who has been mention ed as a leading opponent of Mir. Coolidge on the farm issue. Lowden sent a telegram here endorsing the pending McNary- -Haugen farm bill. If it passes congress and is signed by MT. Coolidge, as is indicated, the Lowden boom would be considerably defiated. Similarly raising of the prohibition issue over the farm oues- tion has not helped his chances.
 Borah made a unique proposal for a party referendum in his letter to Butler yesterday. He suggested to that "The voters who make up the party should have an opportunity to speak," and proposed fin order to achieve this, the issued should be presented in the respective states and districts prior to the election of dele gates so that the delegates may be elected in accordance with the popu- lar view.
 "Wo should not dodge this issue" nc continued. T will do all I can to force the issue to q final conclusion In the next convention"
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