The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-07-05
AN AMBIGUOUS GESTURE

The Kansas City convention felt
that it could afford to compromise on
the prohibition issue. With major
ity of the voters normally behind it,
asking for continuance in office after
a record of conceded popularity and
success under President Coolidge,
Coolidge, standing upon a consistent
record of sound economics and strong
nationalism, the Republican party had
a solid basis for this confidence. Upon
the one active threat of sound eco
nomic progress, the McNary-Haugen
project, the convention spoke courage
ously and clearly. The Republican
party in the nation has in effect left
the solution of the prohibition to the
states.
The Houston platform follows very
closely the Kansas City model. Per-
haps the language is dryer, but the
aim is the same-to appease the drys
without slamming the door of hope in
IIlS 1dCe VI LIIS WSlS. DuI lIle uISuldy
with which this plank has been re-
ceived by the vets stresses the risk
which the Democratic party has taken
in thus compromising its one vital
issue.
Governor Smith has leaped into the
breach in an effort to halt the harm.
His letter is frank repetition of his
own attitude, and he is correct in as
suming that there is no contradiction
between the letter of the platform and
his personal advocacy Of modification.
But his representative sat upon the
platform committee at Houston. He
approved its terms. Neither drys nor
vets will find it easy to forget that
when the party might have been COM
mitted to definite policy of either
prohibition or reform, the Governor
not only held his peace but acquiesced
in an evasive compromise. When he
finally telegraphed the convention he
avoided the blunt courage of Alton B.
the nominees conviction and gave the
convention an opportunity to name
another candidate if it so desired. The
party was thereby bound by the can
didate's massage upon point as to
which it had sought to be discreetly
silent Governor Smith accepted the
nomination without qualification and
condoned the compromise which made
it possible.
1t is the frank hope of the North
ern Democrats that the Governor can
win wet votes by his individual stand,
despite the silence of his platform.
But we think the events at Houston
have fatally weakened this eXpecta-
ton. The platform compromise,
which alone made the Governors nom
ination possible, has gravely compro-
missed the force and sincerity of his
prospective campaign for modifca-
ton.
For what happened at Houston was
fact that the Democratic party holds
the largest block of prohibition die
hards and that however wet an indi-
vidual Democratic leader may be he
cannot hope to command the support
of the drys of his party. The dry
South accepted Governor Smith in a
mood of grace reluctance. A vote for
Governor Smith will be vain gesture
so far as practical progress toward
modification is concerned. Indeed, his
election would be likely to prove a
backward step, for nothing could be
clearer than that the dry sections of
the country will never trust the return
of temperance to Tammany auspices.
Governor Smith expressly rejects the
saloon in his telegram and we heartily
congratulate him upon his courage.
But the nation cannot forget that the
local machine of which he is the ac-
tual head has been the ally of the sa-
loon for generations. The Presidents
vote upon legislation is effective only
after Congress has acted. 1t is from
the Senate and House that reform
must come, and the friends of temper
ance could scarcely do their cause a
greater disservice than to identify it
with Tammany.
Thus Governor Smith falls between
the two extremes of his party, the
solid South, the best hope of electoral
votes, resolved upon prohibition at
any cost, and the saloon-supported
machines of the North. The sane mod
ification which he suggests can re-
ceive scant aid from such extrem-
lists. So far as prohibition is con-
cerned, the Happy Warrior fights I'M
der damning party handicaps, as the
Houston platform clearly and fairly
records-New York Herald Tribune.