Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-27
by ROBERT BARRY.

William G. McAdoo will @not sub
scribe to any project to have the
Democratic party straddle. dodge or
ignore in 1923 the issue of strict en-
forcement of constitutional prohibi
ten.
His succinCt comment on Sugges
tons that wet-dry differences within
the party be submerged in compro
mise follows:
ITO attempt to evade the prohibition
question would not be to evade it; 1t
would be to go over bag and baggage
to the vets.
"If this is not an issue, is there
anything which can be called an issue
in American life today?
IF free government means anything
It means precisely that issues of this
kind must form the basis of party con-
tests and popular decisions.
IF party government means any
thing. if political parties are to be
more than badge or label to entrap
and confuse the unwary voter. then
this is the kind of question upon
which parties that appeal for votes
should have a policy and. above all.
declare policy"
Insists on Enforcement.
Mr.. McAdoo will subscribe to moth
ing short of an uncompromisinS and
uneuuivocal insistence on the reten-
ton and effective enforcement of the
eighteenth amendment.
The issue, in his view, is whether,
the machine politics. the gang poll
ticians. allied with thugs and boot
leggers," shall gain the upper hand
in either or both of the major politi.
cal parties and control the Federal
Government for "the purpose of multi
flying the Constitution of the United
States"
Mr.. McAdoo declined TO submit to
direct interview He listened to the
series of questions the reporter wished
to advance and he was quite willing
to have his position made clear.
His most recent public addresses
had covered the identical issues raised
in the controversy among outstanding
party leaders regarding the prospective
course of the Democratic party. The
answers were there. They could be
presented to the public on his au
thority, if need be, as setting forth
his position on the several phases of
the wet-dry controversy.
effort to Avoid"
To the suggestion by many Demo
cratic leaders that the prohibition
question should be compromised in the
1928 convention to enable the party
to go to the country to combat the
Republicans on other issues, Mr.. Nc
Adoo'S direct reply is:
There is at present, on the part of
many political leaders. an effort to
avoid facing the issue of the enforce
ment of the eighteenth amendment.
1t is said that to face that issue would
antagoniZe certain interests. would
lose votes, would jeopardiZe hopes of
party success The two last of these
three prophecies may be denied, but
even admitting them to be true, what
of it?
docs a political party exist solely
for the purpose of getting into office
without knowing what it intends to
do after it gets there? Is it simply
a selfish coalition OF officehunters who
seek jobs at any price,"
"Their Solemn Conviction"
Further:
American people, I'm the adoption
of the eighteenth amendment, register
ed their solemn conviction that the
welfare Of human beings should be
protected from traffic which took
heartless and heart.rending toll from
millions of innocent persons, women
and children.
1.-THE American people brought into
operation by strictly constitutional
processes the unchallenged power of
the Nation to safeguard health, morals
and general well-being of the COM
munity. It was determination to
abate a public nuisance. The liquor
interests, concerned only with sordid
profits. have resisted. Their resistance
has succeeded in inducing certain
States to nullify the Constitution Now
they are pressing forward to null1fy
Federal enforcement. They seek con-
troll of the Federal Government.
Pledge Of Enforcement.
There must be then. in Mr.. McAdoo's
opinion, an outright declaration for re-
tention of the eighteenth amendment,
a pledge of it's sincere and effective en-
forcement.
Here is his reasoning:
There could be nothing more de-
structive than a growing tendency 10
deny the face value Of straightforward
discussion of public questions. The
absence of courageous political leader
ship is to blame for that. Frank and
outspoken discussion of political reali-
ties is a novelty. Have we come upon
such unhappy days that any man who
calls a spade spade must have an
Interior motive? Must an honest ex-
preston of conviction always be held
to be inspired by some narrow or per-
sonal purpose?
IF we permit all great public ques-
tons to be reduced to the level of expe-
diency and personalities, the serious
business of government becomes
mere game or sport, like prize fight
ing. The public is invited to support
ono loader or another not because OF