The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-22
Prohibition Is Shaping Up
as Big Fighting Point
at Houston.
ROW is OUT IN OPEN
Strong Farm Aid Plank Will
Be Built Into Plat
form.
BY CARL d. GROAT
United Press staff Correspondent

United Press STAFF Correspondent
HOUSTON, Texas, June 22.-Pro-
hibition continued of foremost In
terest in preconvention considera-
ton here today despite leaders
efforts to soft-pedal it.
Anti-Smith drys marshaled their
forces more strongly than hereto
fore, while many Smith men
sounded the cry, prohibition is not
a political issue"
Nevertheless, it showed signs Of
being the one big fighting point in
the Democratic assembly opening
here next Tuesday.
Governor Smiths reiteration of
his previous views on the subject in
New York, while containing nothing
fresh from a factual standpoint,
served as added fuel to the drys'
agitation here.
Governor Smith is prepared tn
run for the Presidency on a law
enforcement plank, stronger even
than the Republicans Kansas City
! plank, according to authoritative
advices reaching his workers here
today.
Meantime a nti-Smith workers
were awaiting the arrival Sunday
night of Governor Dan Moody Of
Texas, to furnish them nationally
known figure to lead the dry fight
! in the convention
Dry Row Into Open
The dry row really came into the
open when Norman E. Mack Of
Buffalo, New York committeeman,
declared Governor Smith was OPP
posed to prohibition, favored tenn
perance and advocated States rights
in determination of beverages alco-
holic content. Later, he asserted
he was voicing his own views and
that no one could speak here for
the Governor.
Then in New York, Thursday
night, the Governor made it clear
he had not changed his views on
amendment of prohibition provi-
sions, leaving States to determine
alcoholic content of beverages, The
Governor also had made it clear
previously that he favored enforc-
ing laws while they remain on the
statute books.
Hold Prayer Sessions
The Governors statement met
with two chief reactions here,
namely:
l. Drys claimed it put him more
firmly on record as wet" and as
such they oppose him.
2. Smiths friends said the part Of
frankneSs demanded that he make
his position clear before the conven-
ton, thus not taking the nomination
under false pretenses.
The drys are holding regular
prayer sessions in their headquarters
around the corner from the Rice
Hotel, chic gathering place of the
Democratic clans. Their noon day
meetings are opened with prayer.
Most Of the drys are women. The
Senator Reed forces have been try
ing to win their support, but thus
far the effort seems to have failed,
although Mrs. Jessie Nicholson Of
Chevy Chase, Md, suburb of the
capital, was named by Reed sup
porters as likely to join the Reed
ranks and line up the dry women
for Reed. Mrs. Nicholson emphat-
ically denied she had any intention
of supporting him. Many label Reed
as a wet.
Strong Farm Plank
The Smith headquarters was ST.
lent about the Governors latest
pronouncement. 1t was said there
would be no attempt to amplify or
interpret the Governors remarks,
he could speak for himself.
Meanwhile, the Democratic lead
ers who are engaged in what they
term the constructive work of the
convention-framing the outlines of
the party platform-progresSed to
the point where they saw several
planks taking form. They we're;
Farm relief.
Corruption.
Law enforcement.
The farm relief plank will be very
strong. The definite method of
meeting the farmers equalization
fee demands has not been deter
mined, but it was stated that every
effort will be made TO satisfy farm
ers thoroughly without simultane-
ously raising among industrialists
the cry that the method is "un-
economical"