Evening star., 1927-10-06
SENATOR EDWARDS OF Jersey
CALLS PROHIBITION "A VICE.
Outstanding Wet Leader Pre-.
diets Bitter Fight in
G. O. P. Over Issue.
SAYS Democrats Now Have
Opportunity to Declare for
Sane Temperance.
ny ROBERT BARRY.

RY ROBERT BAkkN.
| President CoolidGes announcement
,f ,ic decision not to run in 1928 pre-
! cinitated a political situation almost
certain TO aCcentiate prohibition as
nermanent issue in next years cam
naicn." Senator Edward l. EDWARDS
| Democratic wet leader from NE"
| Jersey. believes. -.
"Aithough the President never has
come out frankly and boldly IN laN9l
of Volsteadism," Senator Edwards
said. ..he is looked upon as tolerable
nrohibitionist except by a certain
fanatical and bone-dry element VINO
fael that he has been seriously en-
barrassed by the anti-prohloltlon
stand of one OF the ranking members
of his cabinet.
"The Presidents utterances urging a
general and strict law enforcement
program have made him an apostle
of the 'drys' rather than a sympathlZer
with the vets and his recent en-
pressed determination not to be a
candidate in 1928 has thrown wide
omen a field as warm with potential
candidates whose known conElctions
on prohibition are decidedly untrlendiy
to nresent-dav administration Of our
anti-liquor laws.
SavS N0nIIUEP IL NVHSiStV"'
"Nr. Coolidge has followed con-
sistent policy of allowing the enforce
mont machinery of the eighteenth
amendment to function without inter
ference from him. Conservative ana
honest 'drys' have felt that perhaps
the President was doing all he could
FOR their cause. considering the ullh
culties confronting strict enforce
uent. The so-called vets nave nau
little to complain OF, because Mr.
Coolidge has kept his peace, refusing
to be drawn into wet ana dry con-
troverSy. -
Now. with Calvin Coolidge out OF
the race the increasingly pronounced
divergence of prohibition views OF
those within his own party, who are
seeking his crown. will inevitably lead
to a. long, heated convention and pre-
election fight"
Mr.. Edwards. recognized as one OF
the outstanding wet leaders or the
Senate, and a consistent foe OF the
eighteenth amendment, predicts that
Gov. Smith will be nominated by the
Democrats. and that his nomination
will. doubly insure definite platform
prohibition declarations by the Demo-
cratic party.
Asked his opinion whether Amer.
lea would be satisfied with mere law
enforcement pianks in the party plat
forms. Senator Edwards replied:
II earnestly believe the party with
the courage to face the prohibition
issue with sound conviction and bold
determination to seek the right pres
entday evils under the eighteenth
amendment and its enabling statute.
the Volstead act. will be rewarded
with an overwhelming vote of conf
dence from both men and women re-
gardless of their prohibition or anti
prohibition views.
There are eminent and sincere
minds in my own party who are IN
wide disa greement with me. l respect
them because / have faith In their
sincerity, but when any law passed
by Congress places premium on
crime, corruption and secret viola.
tions of our Constitution / shall al.
ways be in the vanguard of those
seeking to repeal or modify that law,
let the political consequences be what
they may.
Politicians and statesmen Of both
parties contend that it is not good
politics. that it is inexpedient for
either the Republicans or Democrats
to go on record as favoring Volstead
modification. Not even Divine wis
dom has ever been able to discover
any expediency in vice, and as ad-
ministered and enforced today prohi-
bition is a recognized vice of vices.
Cited as Hypocritical Gesture.
ever since its adoption prohibi-
ton has been a hypocritical gesture,
political foot ball and a weapon of
Azl 1f
an extra-legal and menacing minority.
1t has torn the Democratic South
| from the North. It has alienated the
West from the East. Why is it not
| better to reunite these elements
| either on a platform of sane temper.
ance, or on a platform of no liquor at
! all? A weak declaration of law en-.
| forcement by either party is begging
! the question.
Woodrow Wilson, minority Presi-
| dent during his first term, vetoed Vol
| steadism and remained in the White
| House eight years. He was the only
| statesman of first rank within my
memory who faced the prohibition
issue boldly and courageously.
"Expedient and wavering tactics
have always been and always will be
! practiced in the great game of Presi.
| oCLI lldhiHS. Tut III my JuuSI1enI
an issue as comprehensive and Of such
nationwide appeal as prohibition has
been worked and manipulated Ions
enough as an expedient. 1t is high
time to settle it once and for all. d
Assuming that Mr.. Coolidge will
not be drafted as the Republican
nominee, will a wet or dry be favor.
ed by the G. p. 0. convention?" Sena
tor Edwards was asked.
There is not the slightest doubt
in my mind that Mr. Coolidge is def
nitely out Of the presidential race OF
1925" declared Mr.. Edwards.
And if you will check over the
names Of the most promising candi
dates who will undoubtedly enter tho
lists to succeed him-Hughes, Hoover
Lowden, Dawes, Longworth, Butler
Wadsworth and Borah-you will finC
that only the last mentioned is ar
outspoken dry And even Senator
Borah has very little private sympathy
for Nolstead prohibition.
|