Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-23
REEDS STATEMENT
D|MS CHANCES FOR
BATTLE AT HOUSTON
Missouri to win Nomination
if Possible" Senator
Declares.
C0NCILIAT0RY STAND
MAY SMOOTH CONTEST
Is Silent on Prohibition-0ther
Candidates Dodge Issue,
Fearing Breach.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Stsf CORRESPONDENT OF The Star.

HOUSION. lex, June &3.->cIldtoI
James E. Reed of Missouri, in his first
statement to the press since, his arrival
in Houston, said today that the Mis-
souri, delegation had come to the con-
vention city to win this nomination
If possible"
They believe they can" he con-
tinued. IF they lost they win be found
supporting the ticket with absolute
loyalty. AS far as my personal views
ATE concerned, I have made them plain
in about SO speeches in Washington
and all over the country.
My intention is to go to the end
Of the road in this fight for the presl-
Dental nomination"
Senator Reed did not discuss the
prohibition issue, but said he might is
sue a formal statement later.
So conciliatory was the note OF the
Reed interview that the last chance for
a real fight over the presidential nemi-
nation seems TO have disappeared. Reed
was regarded as the one man who might
undertake TO make bitter struggle
against Smith.
The prohibition issue, which Norman
E. Mack of New York dumped on the
steps of the Democratic convention, is
crying Justify for some presidential can
6idate to take ii up. So far most OF the
candidates here, and even the Smith
managers, look upon it as nlegitinate,
and are having nothing TO do with 1t.
But the infant issue-it is rather an
aged infant--threatens the harmony
for which the Democrats have been
CRYING in the wilderness for the last
tHfn or three wears
Senator George of Georgia, favorite
son by name. as well as by choice OF
the Democrats of his State, also entered
the convention city last night. coming
here from Washington. Senator George
said emphaticaily that be did not be-
lieve that prohibition had any place In
the campaign this year. He is dry.
and he declared that he was virtually
under instructions from his State TO
stand against any modification of the
eighteenth amendment or OF the pro-
iaibition laws.
Called Non Political Issues =
Representative Cordell Huh Of Ten
resSee, another favorite son candidate,
who has been In Houston for a day or
two. issued a formal statement again
al;gning himself firmly with the pro-
hibitionists, but also he said:
1T has been and is now my view that
prohibition is essentially non-pohtical
question The necessity for the preser-
vation Of the Constitution and the
maintenance Of the integrity OF law is
one which is not open TO political dis
cussion It is an indispensable element
Of honest citizenship.
ST am decidedly opposed to any modi-
ncation or weakening Of the present
Federal prohibition measures. Whether
this effort takes the form Of an attempt
to commit our party to modification or
whether 1t takes the form of demand
for congressional action, ! am against
t."
This may sound like strong state
Ynent. but Mr.. Hull does not attack
Gov. Al Smith. but rather takes it for
granted that any Democrat who may be
nominated for President viii undertake
to preserve the Constitution and to
maintain the integrity Of the law.
Senator George, in a brief interview,
gave II as his opinion that, If the con-
Tention adopted platform plank pleng-
ing the party to enforcement OF the
lass, there was no fundamental reason
why q liberal Democrat might not
prouerIy be Nominated for President
and stand upon such a platform.
Caucus 10 Dcctoe otdHu.
George Washington Olyany. head Of
Tamuany Hall and the big boss, put In
ar appearance yesterday afternoon and
said he did not know whether the New
Work delegation would undertake TO put
forward a plank dealing with pronlpi-
ton. That, he said. would nave 10 De
decided at a caucus OF the ne" YORK
delegation Monday. OF course il 10
clear that the New YORK delegation aIo
rsnT Smith viii be satisfied with law
enforcement plank.
George z. Brennan, Chicago Demo-
cratic boss and a Smith Lieutenant, de-
elsred on his arrival in Houston today
that "tae candidate Is the platform.
he said he was not worried over pro-
hlhition planks and that the ILLINOIS,
deieQatton had no wet plank 10 offer 10
the resolutions committee.
sszYe are going 10 nominate Al smith
and he is platform enough for US, SAID
Brennan.
fyoy. Smiths own frank statement in
gew York that he had not changed his
view that there should be an amend
rneE,t to the present prohibition proyi-
xi0ylg gave added impetus 10 the drive
sTF.icll the prohibitionists are making
against his nomination for President,
nj gave his supporters here something
10 think about, just when they had
bvoa,gf4t Mr.. Mack, the New YORK ma
ffor1al committeeman. 10 publish left
handed retraction Of his first state
ynent asserting that he had been speak
ing for himself and not for Gov. Smith
wf1en he said that the Governor was OPP
,.oSed 70 prohibition and believed the
,,rr,s1is,ition laws should be modlned. II
has been suggested here that Gov.
Gvrstl1 might have something more 70
s@v himself within very short time re-
seydsrv that matter and whether the
New YORK delegation should make a
1g,at for a modification plank IN the
platform.
Only Goal Is Harmony.
,rhe truth of the matter is the Demo-
evsts generally are harmony mao 20
~ y,1lnny mad are the Democrats tflst
,aIuTgter Of the dry leaders among them
are willing 10 take Smith, II ne WIN JUST
stend on a Iaw-enforcenent piattoIm
80 MT make an open attack on pro-
t-thttsor number Of Smith support
80 On the other hand, whether WIN
gnnttl's refrgission or not are angling
for dry votes by agreeing that the plat
form shall have strict iaw-eniofce~
,nent UIank. even mentioning the pro"
hib.tion Jaws, -.
Judge Olvany, exemplifying the new
ia .a,ySanv." instead Of seeking secIu-
sion and sending out orders 10 me
1aenrhnep as Charley Murphy would
haze done. came out In the open To
teig Nth newspaper Correspondents on