The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-06-21

a Prohibition plank the Democrats should write in their platform when they meet next week in Houston not the least notable suggestion to be received, one that has much to commend it, is that made by the Womens Democratic Union. Recognizing that it is not a party issue and in the very nature of the problem cannot be made so by any party commitment the Union de- clared:
 Prohibition enforcement, though at
 present of overshadowing interest and
 importance everywhere in the country, is
 not party issue The Eighteenth
 Amendment passed by a non-party
 vote in Congress on Dec. IS, 1917. It
 was ratified by maiorites in forty-six
 of the State Legislatures without regard
 to party affiliations It was by
 united vote of Republicans and Demo-
 crats that the Volstead act was pass
 ed President Wilson's veto on Oct.
 2S, 1919.
 The division upon Prohibition today
 is similarly not upon party lines. It is
 sectional rather than political. Both
 Democrats and Republicans in certain
 unchangeably wet; but Demo-
 crats and Republicans unchangeably
 dry in certain other The Demo-
 cratic Party therefore, refuses to accept
 the question a party issue. But
 recognizing that the problem of strcter
 enforcement modification repeal of
 the Volstead act engages the attention
 of the electorate beyond any other pub
 lie matter and admitting the diversity
 of opinion which it's own ranks, it calls
 upon all nominees declaring themselves
 in favor of enforcement to define clearly
 what steps are practicable and possible
 to that end and those declaring them
 selves in favor of modification or repeal
 similarly to define clearly what steps are
 practicable and possible to that end
 This plank has a peculiar merit one that does not always attach to platform utterances is could hardly depict the situation with greater degree of exactitude And it extends an invita- tion for the nominees to make personal declara- tions as to their stand the question oi Prohibition
 By adoption of plank calling for observ- ance and enforcement of the Eighteenth Amend ment and its accompanying statute the Volstead Act the Republican Party is seeking to make Prohibition an issue This it hardly hope to do unless it the risk of losing the sup port of powerful factors in the East. Many oi it's leaders, notably like Dr. Nicholas Mur- ray Butler, Senator Edge of New Jersey, Speaker Longworth, and others outspoken for modifica- tion They are hardly likely to submerge theil convictions on the principles involved in the issue because of mere campaign declaration. The Republican plank adopted because that party's leadership is convinced that Gov Smith will be the Democratic nominee It seeks to force the Democratic Party into position of advocating the other side of the question Knowing that Gov. Smith will not make race on any platform that committed the party to fight on those who seek modification. The Re publieans, if they successful in the 1928 campaign, will continue such an enforcement policy as that carried out by the past two na- tonaf administrations under it as the party in power.
 The real rub of the question so far as the two parties are concerned is enforcement And there should be no difficulty in covering that ln the Democratic platform. Gov. Smith, who could not under any circumstances accept the nomination on dry platform, could be the nom. inee standing on a platform that pledged an honest effort at enforcement so long as the law remains on the statute books but at the same time recognized the right of citizens to work for modification reneal nf he