Evening star., 1927-12-12
DRY LAW TERMED
DEMOCRATIC ISSUE
Smith to Be Nominated, Hap.
| good Tells Women's
Club.

Likely issues for the Democratic
party in the 1928 campaign We're de-
fcribed today by Norman Hapgood at
4 z luncheon of the Women's National
democratic Club as the prohibition
question, the tariff and its effect on
The farmers cost of living, the ma
tional waterpower situation, financial
Imperialism in this hemisphere" ana
latin American diplomacy.
Warning that "the party will have
no chance to elect a President next
Fan by being careful" Mr.. Hapgood
said Gov. Alfred z. Smith of New
York ''is to be nominated without any
reasonable doubt"
Mr.. Hapgood told his audience that
l'the issue on which most votes will
Change next November is the question
pf whether we should be satisfied with
the eighteenth amendment and the
Nolstead act, and strive only to make
/ them more effective, or whether we
should recognize one or both of them
as wrong in principle, ill-judged and
TO be changed when possible.
.-a..s Do. Not Be Careful
60 = Democrats seldom win a national
election. Cleveland is the only man
since the Civil War who has won in
an entirely normal election. The party
will have no chance to elect a PreSi-
dent next Fall by being careful.
Gov. Smith, who is to be nomi-
mated without any reasonable doubt,
has frequently expressed his disbelief
both in the Volstead act and in the
amendment, and he has repeated his
position within a fortnight. For the
party to nominate him, and then run
away from the prohibition issue, could
M hn
considerations. If it is done, it will
be in the attempt to save local situa-
tions.
In actual votes affected, the farm
issue comes next, and it would change
many more votes except for the fact
that the farmers Of Iowa, for ex-
ample, no matter how angry they may
be, win continue to vote Republican.
The Democrats, of course, will stress
the tariff and its effect on the farm
efS cost Of living. If they are wise,
they viii hitch up the national water
power situation. Senator Thomas j.
Walsh's Investigations and Gov.
Smiths water.power fight with the
same line of thought, since their best
argument is that in the favors con-
stantly granted, over long period Of
time, to the big concentrated city
interests, whole trend of develop
nent has been artificially favored
that has made a victim of the farmer.
The party, however, will scarcely be
able to accept that principle of the
McNary-Haugen bill, and therefore
cannot make the issue as pointed as
the drink issue.
Financial Imperialism.
Another question on which the
platform may and should be affected
by the fact that the candidate is al
ready practically selected is financial
imperialism in this hemisphere. Gov.
Smith, some months ago, spoke sharp
ly on the Mexican question, and the
whole principle involved in any inter-
ference by us in the domestic affairs
of Mexico In a way that applied to
all the other countries in which we
might be tempted to interfere. Also
it is good Democratic doctrine, partic-
ularly because financial Imperialism
is 80 closely connected with domestic
special privilege. "a
ss.As far as the campaign is con-
cerned. cur future possible relations
to Geneva, guesswork at the best,
viii be academic. That world COOP
seration must on the whole increase
can scarcely be doubted. Gov. Smith
seemed almost to go out Of his way,
a few weeks ago, in explaining why
he could not go to st. Louis to
peace meeting, to describe disarma-
ment as the greatest possible single
step in advance, If only for the eco-
nonic gain; and disarmament Is OBJ
.vipusly Impossible without agreement.
! But as far as next year is concerned.
!. Sc any fareign question blazes up in
the campaign. it will have to do with
Latin America"
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