The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-12
DIVIDING THE G. O. P.
BY n. ID. Cochran :

With Nicholas Murray Butler leading the vets and
Senator Borah the drys, the Republican party may
have to face the prohibition problem after ALL the
Democratic party is hopelessly begged in the same
mire, however, the G. o. P. afford to put a good
fight in its own ranks between now and 1928. Any
how, the time has gone when both parties dodge
the issue by declaring that long the Eighteenth
amendment is in the Constitution and the Volstead
act on the statute books the law must be enforced.
Everybody knows that public officials have to
swear that they will enforce the law. They can't
change the oath of office; and they can't that
they take the oath with mental reservations. But
everybody knows also that laws are enforced
md others not There also different WAYS of
enforcing the same law.
Some politicians would like to have both parties
dodge the prohibition ISSUE a lot of lodging has
been done. But an issue that everybody makes the
subject Of daily conversation and argument can't be
lodged indefinitely What is in the public mind as
political issue must finally find its way party
platforms.
Politicians know that What bothers them is
what is the safest way to tackle animal that can
either butt or kick
Some Democrats are trying to hold the solid South
and at the same time reach the wet States bv
pushing States rights. Some Republicans are lean
ing the same way in the hope of holding the dry
West and the wet East together The Democrats who
follow McAdoo take the dry end of it, hoping hold
the dry Democratic South and attract the dry Repub-
lcan West Their undercover tactics to work the
dry and religious issues in double harness Openly
they attack Governor Smith a wet, but covertly
they attack him because he is a Catholic
u States like New York New Jersey Maryland and
Massachusetts want wet Democratic candidate and
wouldn't worry much, if TT all, about his religion But
they would draw the lire Senator Walsh of Mon.
tana because he is dry though the fact that he is
Catholic won't bother them. But in these States
the proportion of Catholics much higher than it is
in the South
According to the last available statistics of church
membership in the various States, there are In Ala.
bama $4,000 Baptiss. 1923, 900 Methodiss and $4,000
catholics. Other Southern States show as follows:
Arkansas, $4,000 Baptsts, 10000 Mehodsts $1,000
ntiStS
lSooO Catholics Mississippi AL 900 Baptists 226OO0
Methodlsts, $4,000 Catholics South Carolina 1000
Baptlsts, $4,000 Methodsts, $500 Catholics; North
carolina $4,000 Baptiss 339 Methodists and 5000
Cathohcs; Tennessee, 100000 Baptists 2S6OO0 Meth.
oss $4,000 Catholics; Virginia Asst 900 Baptists 14S
900 Methodists, 81 900 Catholics
Ihat gives an idea of what the Smith Democrats
are up against in the solid South when it is consd
ered that the backbone of the AntiSaloon League
ment, the KuKlux Klan and prohibition forces is the
membership Of the Baptist Methodist and Other
Frotestant churches, 1t may be understood what Nc.
Adoo is driving at; and what a job the Democrats
nave on their hands in getting New York New Jersey
massachusetts,, Maryland and other northern and
ern states together on the platform with South
ern Democrats when prohibition and religion are made
political issues.
Their only consolation is the fact that the Renuh.
hcan party is getting into similar jam. began with
the defeat Of Senator Wadsworth of New York by the
AntSaloon League and allied forces in politics.