Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-27
Cracking the Whip.


49, The Anti-Saloon League threatens
to split the Democratic party, NOM
mating a dry Democrat for President
next year, il Gov. AL Smith should be
the choice OF the Democratic ma
tional convention. Wayne B. Vince.
Ter, general counsel for The league. in
formal statement to the press. says:
''If Gov. Smith Is nominated and
the drys in the South would rather
vote for an Independent dry Demo
cratic candidate for President than
dry Republican. this would give them
a chance to register their protest. The
party collar is worn more lightly than
in years"
In fairness to Mr.. Wheeler it must
be said that If the Republican party
should nominate wet, the organiza-
ton of which he is a leader would
seek the election Of a dry Democrat,
or if the Democrats also nominated
wet. would support a third ticket. In
deed, the purpose Of Mr.. Wheeler and
the Anti-Saloon League is to bring
about the nomination Of dry candi-
dates for President next year by both
the major political parties. Mr..
Wheeler frankly announces that the
Anti-SaIoon League will use its well
established and successful methods in
the coming political campaign. That
means that the drys will be organized
in both political parties to nominate
successful candidates for President
and Congress and on State and local
tickets.
II these tactics fail in one party.
then, Mr.. Wheeler says, the Anti
Saloon League will ask the drys in
that party to vote for the dry candi-
dates of the opposing party, rather
than for wet candidates of their own
party. In other words. party solidarity
goes by the board If necessary for
the sake of prohibition.
The effect of Mr.. Wheeler's ulti-
rmatum to the Democrats only time
will show. The threat may head off
the nomination of Gov. Smith Of New
York, or any other wet Democrat. But
whatever it accomplishes, it is scarce
iy calculated to make peace in the
Democratic ranks. To the Repub-
Hcans, who have no thought Of nom.
mating a wet candidate-notwith
standing the fulminations Of DIR. Mich
olas Murray Butler-the Wheeler
statement will doubtless sound as
sweet as caroling Of birds in the
Spring. A Democratic split Is meat
for the Republicans any day.
There may be an element Of dan
ger, however, in the nomination of
an independent dry Democrat through
the efforts Of the Anti.Saloon League,
In the event of the nomination Of Al
Smith. With dry Republican nom
mated, too. the intersection Of a dry
: Democrat might have the effect Of
splitting the dry vote in some Of the
States and giving Smith an advantage
mot suspected. Dry Democrats, in
stead Of voting for the Republican
nominee, might well vote for the dry
and independent Democrat. Wet Re-
publicans, on the other hand, might
cast their ballots for the wet nominee
Of the Democratic party.
s The Wheeler statement cracks the
whip over Democratic shoulders. It
suggests, however, that the league
may have some doubts that the nom
ination of Gov. Smith can be pre-
vented in the next Democratic ma
tional convention. There have been
Indications of late that many Demo
Gratis would prefer to nominate Gov.
Smith. even though they may dis
agree with him In regard TO prohibi-
ton and church matters. rather than
run the risk Of splitting hopelessly
for years to come the Democrats of
the Northeast and the Democrats Of
the South and West.