Evening star., 1927-06-22
BIPARTISAN DRY
CAMPAIGN URGED
Anti-Wets Would Establish
Political Combine From
Both Old Parties.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Sympathizers with the dry side in
politics are discussing a Nationwide
movement to establish a bipartisan
national committee for political ac-
ton in the approaching presidential
campaign.
The plan is to select a dry Demo-
crat and a dry Republican from
every State in the Union. Church
organizations interested in maintain
ing prohibition are expected to figure
largely in the effort. which involves
the calling of a national convention
bv the partisan committee. AT
srch a convention of dry delegates
from both the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties. the idea is to nom1-
nate an outstanding dry Democrat.
Reasons for Action.
This would take place in advance
of the Renuhlican and Democratic
national conventions. but the purpose
of it would be to influence primarily
the kind of candidate to be selected
by the Democrats. An effort would
be made by the drys OF Democratic
faith to go into the Democratic con-
vention with the argument thatt the
choice of the bipartisan convention
is the logical nominee for the Demo
Gratis.
Failing to win, the same movement
would be kept up independently dur
ing the campaign in the hope of get
ting the Southern States particularly
to cast their electoral votes for dry
Democrat, even though he might not
win the regular Democratic nomina-
ton.
Aimed at Gov. Smith.
The movement is aimed at Gov.
Smith of New York, as we'll as any
other wet Democrat who might be
considered. and had it's origin on the
Pacific Coast, where the name most
discussed for the bipartisan nomina-
ton is William Gibbs McAdoo. Other
names mentioned are Senator Thomas
Walsh of Montana and Gov. Donahey
of Ohio.
The sum and substance of the move
ment is that the drys are fearful Gov.
Smith may enter the Democratic ma
tional convention with commanding
strength and that his own personal
popularity might influence the con-
vention to subordinate the wet and
dry issue, which to the drys Is the
paramount question of the day.
If a national convention should
nominate a wet, they feel this would
be body blow to the cause of pro-
hibition. Therefore even though they
may not succeed in getting the Demo
Gratis to nominate conspicuous dry.
they hope to prevent the nomination
OF a conspicuous wet.
Record of Independent Parties.
All Independent movements in poll
tics have been looked upon as more or
less futile in the last generation be-
cause they have been associated either
with personal ambition or with a
radical cause that had not yet pene-
trated the mind of the average voter.
Funds also have been lacking to go
on with the tremendous job of or
ganization necessary to comply with
State laws to get on ballots. But
the drys have both the organization
and the money.
Entirely apart also from the effect
that the movement might have on the
choice of a Democratic nominee for
the presidency, the drys would hope
to prove that the same thing might
be done in the future If the Republi-
can party followed the counsel Of
Nicholas Murray Butler and others
who think the wet cause should be
championed by the Republican party.
copyright. 1929