Evening star., 1928-08-25
Smiths Dry-Law Proposals
Meet With Critical Analysis

Standing in the acceptance speech Oh
Gov Alfred E. Smith, Democratic can
didate for President, meets Win the
critical ANALYSIS of the country, as
shown by the comment Whlcn lolio"s
the ceremony at Albany. All shades OF
oninion appear. while discussion OF tile
nereonality of the candidate Is hflKeo
with this issue and the other policleS
presented. u.,.oa his
"On the LIQUOR question he stated MS
attitude and his program clearly anu
c0uraeeously," says the Detrolt news
Cndependent9 land his plan is IN cledl
accord with our principles OF govern
ment." The News also feels that ms
eneech confirms the impression that
Democratic leadership is In skllitul
hands" The Roanoke Times tindepen-
don't DemocraticD declares: we accept
without reservation Gov, Smiths piedge
for an honest effort to enforce the Ia"
as it. is. His suggestions for changes IN
the law may we'll be referred to Con-
gress and the people for their careiui
consideration. Unless better way can
be found. it may yet prove to be the
path this nation will find 1t necessary
to tread"
"He makes a signal contribution to
the crusade against Federal prohlpltlon
in submitting a definite program OF ac-
tion," according to the Phlladelpslia
Evening Bulletin independent RepuoA-
cam and while disagreeing with MN On
that issue. the Little Rock Arkansas Ga
zette (Democratic), nevertheless an
nornces that it will continue to sup
mort Gov. Smith for President" as ITS
disagreement with him is over a purely
academic point" and 1t trusts tne
governor to keep his pledge to enforce
the dry laws, because his record proves
him an honest and dutiful man.
X 4
His proposal for liberalizing the Vol
stead act, in the opinion OF the Balu-
more Sun independent Democratlc),
sis sound. and offers some hope OF re-
lief from chaotic conditions. even
though it offers no sure cure Tor exist
ing evils" AS to a change in the eight
eenth amendment, the Sun adds: III
is to be said that constitutional lawyers
may reserve Judgment until the general
idea has been reduced TO definite 1orm'
but few will say that 1t lacks the marx
of sincerity as an attempt to compose
fairly the differences between uroail
centers and rural communities.
1--WE cannot follow Gov. Smith in h;
crusade for the enlargement OF a legal
ICED liquor traffic" asserts the Okla
homa City Oklahoman independently +,
but We can commend the vlgor, the
clarity and the manifest courage with
which he accepts the issaes and pre-
sents his views to the American people.
He proposes the deadliest blow to
the private sale of liquor ever proposed
by an American statesman" contends
the Montgomery Advertiser Demo-
cratic), with the further statement that
his scheme is deadlier thrust at the
commercial liquor traffic than the Anti
Saloon League or the w. c. I. U. mas
ever made" The Omaha World-Herald
independently makes the general COM
ment: "One may agree with Alfred Is.
Smith In whole, or in little. or in moth
ing. but there stands a mana man
unflinchingly bold and candid. No
pussyfooter he, no tinid time-Server.
He does not hesitate TO say what he
believes or fear to fight for 1t. He Is
not out to win an election by offending
none and currying favor with all. He
Is out to champion his convictions and
to stand or fall with them"
Where Mr.. Hoover contented himself
with generalizationS," IL Is pointed out
by the New Orleans Times-Picayune
independent Democratic). Gov. Smith
has dared discuss the questions labeled
delicate or dangerous frankly and in
definite detail" The Syracuse Herald
independently holds that the speecn,
was as free from equivocation and
evasion as any pronouncement of a
presidential candidate Of great party
in the history of our times
Doubts as to feasibility. however, come
from the Kansas City Journal-Post tin-
dependent Republican,: Since Is
States can spoil Mr.. Smiths proposed
prohibition change, practical-minded
vets are offered little consolation. while
he does nothing to mollify the drys."
That paper adds that "the Republicans
will gladly meet Mr.. Smiths challenge
as to the Underwood tariff, Latin Amer
ican relations and economy in govern
ment," The Denver Post tindepen-
dentl affirms that 80 States are not
going to reverse themselves IN the eight
eenth amendment" that the country
Is dry and It's going TO remain so"
Inconsistency in the effort TO make
prohibition party issue Is charged by
the Fort Wayne NewsSentinel tRepub-
lican), which explains HE acknowl-
edges that prohibition cuts squarely
across both parties. since there are wet
and dry Democrats and wet and
dry Republicans" That paper adds
that "as for farm relief. he offers Moth
ing definite" The WinSton-Salem
Journal independently believes that
North Carolina Democracy. through
its leaders, should promptly repudiate
Smiths anti-prohibition program. The
Raleigh News and Observer tDemo-
cratic) suggests that the governors pro-
posed amendment lis as impossible OF
achievement as would be an amend
.la 10
astonishing that SO practical an eNecu
tive would suggest an impossible solu-
ton" The Kansas City Star (indepen-
dent) holds that the change would
make enforcement virtually impossible
In dry territory and would not touch
the problem of the bootlegger'
The conclusion drawn by the Buffalo
Evening News .tRepublicanl is that
while he proclaimed in 1920 that he
could not be a wet In wet territory and
dry In dry territory he is now
offering n program which is u palpable
attempt 10 make him exactly that"
The governors speech is interesting
most of ALL" to the Atlanta Journal |
tDemoCraticl, las a revelation of HIM
self. of his free and open nature. his |
eandor and courage. his instructive |
friendliness to the people, his profound
faith In Democracy. Like Old Hickory |
and Abraham Lincoln" continues the |
Journal, ''he forged his way upward |
from the common ranks. but, unlike |
many self-made men, he exhibits no |
vain glory when fame smiles and beck |
ons Rather his thoughts are of the |
duty to be done, the cause to he served, " |
Similar praise for the character re- |
vealed In his utterances is given by /
numerous newspapers
New orleans Item tpemocratic)~~
His outstanding skill as one of the |
at KNIshti.s 1