Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-09
Prohibition in 1928.

, 1OllkplbkUn ia 1870
The Borah Butler prohibition debate
in Boston last night is only another
indication that the wet and dry issue
looms as major question in the cam
paign of 1928. The drys, not unnatu-
rally, are opposed to having it an is
sue. They are bent upon the nominal
ton of dry candidates for President
by both the Republican and Demo
cratic parties, and upon platform
declarations for the enforcement of
the prohibition law. They have insist
ed that prohibition, since the adoption
OF the eighteenth amendment to the
Constitution, is ''out of politics" Ger
tain more practical drys, however,
take different view, and are arming
all along the line to put a quietus, if
possible, on wet candidates for Presi-
dent.
The issue is to come to the fore next
year, first in the selection of dele
gates to the national conventions and
then in the national conventions
themselves. If the prohibitionlsts
have their way, il they succeed in
having both parties nominate dry
candidates and in declaring for law
enforcement, then prohibition as ma.
tional issue in 1928 fades out of the
picture. Whichever party wins the
national election will be committed to
prohibition enforcement under such
circumstances. This is what the vets
are particularly anxious to avoid.
They are stirring up the issue, keep
ing it in the llmelight whenever pos
sible. When Senator Borah took cog
nizance of the assertion by DR.. Mich
olas Murray Butler, president of Co
lumbia University. that only a wet
could be elected President next year
he gave DR.. Buffers assertion life"
When he agreed to meet DR.. Butler
in joint debate he gave the vets a
much-desired opportunity for pub
lefty.
If the Republicans on the one hand
nominate a dry-the likelihood they
will name a wet appears inf1nitesinal
and tbs Democrats on the other
nominate wet. the issue will be
souarely Joined in the campaign.
Some of the Democratic leaders feel
that the wet and dry issue, If raised in
the candidacy of Gov. Al Smith of
New York, would be the most serious
handicap they could have. Senator
Carter Glass of Virginia. who insists
that in discussing recently the Smith
candidacy he made no prediction that
the Governor of New York could be
elected and showed no preference for
his nomination, did undertake to prove
that the election of President who
was wet could not affect the status OF
the eighteenth amendment.
Oficials OF the Anti-Saloon League
of America, however, take serious
issue with Senator Glass. DIR. Arthur
j. Barton of Nashville, Tenn, chair
man of the national executive COM
mittee of the league, declares that the
President Is chief executive off1cer or
the Nation and the chief enforcement
officer of all Federal law.
"A wet President" says Mr. Barton,
'could so administer the affairs of the
Nation as to break down enforcement,
destroy the morale of the people and
pave the way for repeal"
The Republicans, as DIR. Butler
must know, have no outstanding wet
presidential possibilities. The Demo
Gratis, on the other hand, boast Gov.
Smith of New York, Senator Reed of
Missouri and Gov. Richie of Mary
land, all vets and at present looming
up as the strongest bidders for the
nomination. The vets are planning
the nomination and election Of as
many wet members of Congress as
they can encompass, for, after all, if
there is to be any change in the dry
laws they must be made by Congress,
and cannot be made by executive Of
ficers, as Senator Glass has said.