Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-10
DU POINT PLEDGES
SUPPORT TO SMITH
Favors Recommendations
Necessary for Solution of
Liquor Problem"
AZ The Associated Press.

| NEW YORK. August l0.-~Fierre s.
du Font. chairman Of the boards Of the
! r. |. du Font dc Nemours & Co, and
| the General Motors Corporation, today
decided he would support Gov. Alfred
f. Smith for the presidency OF the
; United States.
Gov. Smith has the strength Of char
! acter TO correct the evils OF prohibition
/ law enforcement and make recon-
| mendations necessary for the solution
/ of the liquor problem" Mr. du Pont
/ said in a prepared statement explaining
/ his action.
| Mr. du Points stand was anticipated
/ Yesterday the General Motors Corpo~
ration granted him leave Of absence
! during the political campaign The
board refused to accept his resignation
| He Is one Of tho leaders IN the Assocla-
! ton Against the Prohibition Amend
mont
/ John J. Raskob. Democratic national
chairman. is personal friend and
! business associate Of Mr.. du Point
! Raskoh resigned AS chairman OF the
! General Motors finance committee TO
/ keep the corporation out Of politics.
He is still a director.
Raskob Gives Opinion.
Raskob said he did not believe Mr.
/ du Pont would become a member OF
| the Democratic advisory committee.
| Asked if he and Mr. du Pont regard
ed prohibition as the main issue, MIR
Raskob answered, No. there are many
issues"
In his statement Mr. du pont said
Smiths declaration lin favor Of modifi-
cation gives greater encouragement
than does the non constructive opinion
of his opponent"
The statement given Harris Simon
inSki. representative of Every Evening
Wilmington. Del, for transmission 10
the Associated Press, follows.
You have asked whether it is my
intention to support Gov. Smith of
New York as candidate for the presi-
dency of the United States To this
question in reply. yes. and might then
pause without further comment How
ever. l believe that YOU are interested
in knowing why. on this occasion. o
man should reject the party Of his
! usual choice"
Let me first explain that I have
never been wholly q party man /
voted for President Wilson. though my
other votes for President have been
uniformly on the Republican side
have always interested myself in the
plans End policies involved and in the
| personality OF a candidate more than
in the name Of the party, and I believe
that no intelligent voter can do other
wise
THE platforms of the TWO predomi-
mating parties have become reconoiled
to a degree that makes choice between
them difficult Neither platform pre-
sents a stand on any important ques-
| ton differing materially from the posi-
| ton Of the other.
In making a choice Of candidates
one is much influenced by public conf
dence. shown by the fact that Gov.
/ Smith has been elected four times chief
executive Of the state of New York
! and in 1920 would have been successful
had 37.03l votes a. per cent OF the
| totan turned to him from Gov. Miller
! During the past 100 years not even
second term has been accorded 10 more
/ than two other men. In presidential
| years Gov. Smith has run far ahead
| of the Democratic presidential candi-
| date and in oft years has led the
| Democratic senatorial candidate
Cites Smiths Career.
I'm practical politics the governor
has had a long experience Of IS years
in the legislative affairs Of his
State
THE really important issue before
the country, namely that Of maintain
ing intact our original form Of Gov
eminent and the liberties Of the people,
is not dealt with in either party plat
form The issue has been raised by the
eighteenth amendment TO the ConStitu-
ton Nine years of experiment have
proved that prohibition does not pro-
hibit, strong dring IS still readily obtain
able and the III effects of It's abuse
remain with us. The real question in
wolves the Government itself-~Whether
the machinery OF our system. designed
10 promote individual liberty. can be
twisted and abused so as 10 curtall
liberty and TO impose upon our people,
without their direct consent laws that
may be odious to a substantial minority
or perhaps even to majority
Though the Chief Executive of our
Nation cannot change our Constitution
and laws two duties will fall upon our
next President.
THE first. to enforce the law under
insufficient appropriations granted by
Congress But the enforcement division
need not be conducted contrary TO The
laws Of our country and 10 human de-
cency. Killing of innocent citizens and
Of the guilty without trial violating
| the scarch-and~ seizure laws, conducting
Illegal resorts, employing men to enttce
others TO break the law. spending pub
lie money 10 acquire alcoholic evil
| dence, holding up innocent citizers
| and many other immoraltles OF the
| enforcement division can be stopped
| Nine years of Republican domination
| have failed To- correct these scandals of
/ prohibition but | believe that the adj
! mnistration Of Gov Smith would
/ do so.
| Wishes Dry Law Change.
| 1.-The second duty Of the President
! Is to report on the condition Of the
country and TO make recommendation A
man who believes prohibition an expert
ment noble in character will doubtless
| recommend It's continuance. / hope
and believe GOV Smith will not only
| advocate a change but will propose
definite reply for discussion and submis~
/, sion TO the people The latter Is all
important Either the Federal Consu-
tuition should be amended by ConVeu~
tons Of the people. or If the lcgisla-
lures are 10 act. they should do SO only
| urdef definite power granted by the
state constitutions
II believe that we have Ia Gov Smith
a man who has strength Of character
to correct the evils Of enforcement 10
lay ali the facts before the people 10
guide their determination, and 10 make
the recommendations necessary for the