Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-27
EDWARDS HITS DRY
ATTACK ON SMITH
Anti-SaIoon League Called
Adjunct of G. O. P. in
Reply to Wheeler.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Formal announcement by Wayne B.
Wheeler, general counsel Of the Anti
Saloon League of America. that the
nomination of Gov Alfred E. Smith of
New York for President by the next
Democratic national convention would
be followed by the nomination of an
independent dry Democrat, has kicked
up no little political dust.
Senator Edwards of New Jersey,
Democrat and wettest of the wet, i'm
mediately issued a statement depounc-
ing the attitude of the Anti-Saloon
League and charging it with being an
adjunct of the Republican party.
In other Democratic quarters,
where strenuous efforts are being
made to get the party back to a dis
cussion of "Jeffersonian principles"
and to cause it to forget its difficult
ties oyer prohibition and religion. the
Wheeler statement was received
with some ,misgiyings. The fear
wasss.tlatss IL - could only intensity
the feeling between the wet and dry
wings of the party. 1t was pointed
out, however, that the Democratic.
party is running its own organiza-
ton and the Anti-Saloon League is
running an organization of its own,
too" The implication being that the
Anti-Saloon League should attend to
its own knitting.
Interpreted As Threat, s
Mr.. Wheeler's statement, in which
Gov. Smith alone is mentioned, was
interpreted today as a threat particu.
larly aimed at the Governor of New
York and his presidential aspirations.
Probably the Anti-Saloon League
would be almost as strongly opposed
to the nomination of Senator Reed Of
Missouri or Gov. Albert c. Ritchie of
Maryland, both rated as vets. But
apparently the league leaders are of
the opinion that Smith has the best
chance of all the Democratic vets for
the nomination next year.
The announcement by Mr.. Wheeler,
however, is notice to both Republican
and Democratic parties that the Anti
Saloon League will not tolerate the
nomination OF wet by either of them
No one expects the Republicans to
nominate wet, unless it be DIR. Nicho-
las Murray Butler, president Of Colum-
bia University, and it is doubtful that
such an astute politician as DR.. But
Ter thinks wet has a chance in the
next Republican national convention.
III oAdISIIlcuL " lil6 press NIL
Wheeler says that if the two major
political parties should nominate vets
or adopt wet platforms 1--WE will meet
the situation and demonstrate to s:lch
candidates or to the. party with a wet
platform that there is punishment:
after death"
Activity In Both Parties.
DIR. Wheeler frankly declares that
the Anti-Saloon League will use its
well established and successful meth
DDS in the coming political campaign.
That means the drys will be organ
fzed in both political parties to
nominate satisfactory candidates for
President and Congress and on State
and local tickets. If we fail in one
party we shall ask the voters of that
party, except in States where the law
prevents, to scratch the ticket and
vote for a good man on an opposite
| party ticket rather than bad one on
| their own.
ITO vote straight ticket with cor.
rupt or bad candidates on it is
crooked politics. There will be at
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