Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-17
Senator Seen Drawing Fac
tor Into Fight-WetS
Back Secretary.
LEGISLATOR is VIEWED
AS REAPING Benefit
Commerce Heads Reply to Borah's S
QUESTIONABLE Is Awaited
by Both Sides.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

By G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The wet and dry question looms to-
day as a possible factor Of Importance
In the Hoover-willis fight for delegates
to the Republican national convention
This is true in spite of the fact thai
both Senator Frank B. Willis. ONO
fayorite son. and Secretary Hoover OF
the Department of Commerce are oo'h
regarded as drys.
1t is true for two reasons. First. oe-
cause Senator Willis is apparently SEEK
ing TO draw this issue into the CAM
paisn for delegates and second. because
the vets in Ohio appear to have hop
ped on the Hoover band wagon.
Willis May Benefit.
Should the fight develop into an out
and-out vet and dry battle. with the
ory organizations, including the Anti
Saloon League. lining up for senator
Willis. the Senator. 1t is believed. would
benefit by the lineup: The vets IN
Ohio have fought Willis many times,
and rather emphatically are expected to
support Mr.. Hoover. Mr.. Hoover. II he
Is to win. must have dry support in
Ohio. 1t Is said. because the State has
proved itself strongly dry in past elec-
tions. indeed. dry 100000 or more.
The national headquarters OF the
Anti-Saloon League. which have been
moved recently from Ohio to Washing
ton. is saying nothing at this junctule
about the Hoover-Willis contest IN the
Buckeye State So far as has been
learned here. the, State Anti-Saloon
League has taken no Official position in
the rlatser. Nor is it believed that the
national or State organization OF the
league viii officially indorse Senator
Willis as against Mr.. Hoover or that
II viii :ndorse Mr.. Hoover against
Senator Willis Provided. OF course. Mr,
Hoover makes his position on the pro
nibiticn question quite clear in man
ner satisfactory to the league. MT
Hoorei has yet TO answer the pronloi-
ton cuestionnaire put to him along
with other presidential candidates, BY
Senator Bornh OF Idaho.
Reply Expected Soon
The reply Of the seefetary. however.
win be made soon. and his friends pre-
dict that II viii be dry. and Of a char
acter to satisfy the drys. Mr.. Hoover
took the letter of Senator Borah with
him TO Florida. 1t is possible that his
answer VIII not be made until early
next week. when he returns TO Wash
tngton. although he might determine
70 send II to the Idaho Senator earlier
Senator Willis already has pointed
out that certain support now going 70
MFR Hoover In Ohio Is regarded as wet.
George A. Stauder United States mar
S1sl for the northern district OF Ohio.
a Willis adherent, who called on Sena-
tor Willis yesterday. issued a statement
declaring that Ohio voters wished TO
hear from Mr. Hoover on the wet and
5ry question and On other issues inciud-
ing the foreign policies OF the United
States, on the protective tariff and his
Republicanism. In regard 10 the wet
and dry issue Mr. Stauffer said:
Naturally the people Of Ohio are
curious as 10 his attitude On the e:gh-
teeath amendment. since IL has taken
him already more than week 70 pre-
pare his answer 10 simple question
ss 10 whether he L. wet or dry, and the
answer Is no. yet forthcoming
Seen Avoiding Issue.
The failure @. Mr.. Hoover 70 reply
10 the Boraf3 questions before the Ohio
esntcgt Is settled would be regarded by
drys Ss an effort 70 avoid the issue in
Ohio and 70 stradGle the subject In the
hope Of winning both vet and dry sup
port. Mr. Hoovey's answer. however, is
not 70 be delayed. IL lis said. Further
more. he can scarcely lose liberal sup
port In Ohio because O: his dry answer
10 the EoFsh questions, The liberals
are no, likely 70 support Senator Willis.
who has been the dryest of the drys
sno has fought them again and again
Walter r. Brown Assistant Secretary
~ Commerce. and Tnad Brown. from
Toledo sBo Columbus. respectively. both
81 whom are eaderg In the Hoover fight
t1f delegates 70 the national convention
ere regarded aa vets. Maurice Maschke
the national committeeman and CicVe-
!snc leader. is also called wet Tnei,
support 81 Mr. Hoover has given
Senator Willis an opportunity W raise
the cry that he is being attacked b;
the vets. Representative Burton. wtlG
sis has esDo0Sed the Hoover cause. i,
regarded az u cry. But Senator Willii
is The fslr-haired son of the d.ys oi
okip
League Fight Sighted.
F4rtsefuore. II may be expected ths'
fne EnI-6sJo2n League viii boi
aSkance 81 the efforts VI Liberals ir
Cnio 70 viz leadership VI tfle r.
publican state organization by noidini
M " tsae coat tails of Mr. Hoover i
IL Incomes apparent that such L. tn
raSe, il vii NOT require any offlcia
stafment oy tie league. ind0rsing Sen
ator Wills ~ Ilne up thousands o
rural cYys !of the Senator
Chlc la& heeIi the seat u the natiOns
osgsnsAafaofl o' the league for year
sDc until headquarters were recent.
r1oFee " ,i3iS city. The sentiment bari
os the organization IN Ciio Will TAX
s11fs With Wills Il u Decoules eIesI
That iais vets are seeking tD gain c1ti
'fD! u ti4f EiaH through support q
EDo|er Delegates EenaD3f Willis na.
been defeated Tor governor on d DR.
platform, at.o has beet elected goYerno
on Dry platform lie won his ngh
foE tie Senate IN dry platform.
IL seems clear that the entrance O!
Tic vet sfad Dry issue inDo the Ohis
campaign would favor Senator Wiilii
sEc lose MF. Hoover possible strength
u seems also clear that the Howe
liberal supporters could easily fore.
sDig lsss4s into the open, and that th.
Wills s,e0pig afe doing their best fioy
~ make IL an Issue,
The Enti-Ealoon League may 1T cali
20 upon iii this Ohio contest W deter
nl3Iae whether IL viii opISose Mf Howe
III favor ot Senator Wills whether i
will Oppose man VINO is dry and a
present appears ~ have an exceiIsH
rnss4ce for the presidential nomination
10 order 10 throw jtk support ~ Eens
tpr Wills.
Tie league may have u, decide whici
q ti1s better part u politics. Tie lssgu
ray If tOllfse Announce neuiTs