Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-12
DRY ISSUE REARS
HEAD IN MISSOURI.
Reed and Smith Stands May
Make Prohibition Dominant
State Factor.

Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
KANSAS CITY. Mo, February Ii
In spite Of the efforts of party leaders
to keep 1t out. present indications arc
that prohibition will be an important
factor. If not one Of the dominant is
sues. in the Missouri political campaign
this year.
The people of this State have voted
dry only once. then. in 1925 after ma
tional prohibition was in effect to APP
prove State bone dry enforcement
law. submitted 10 referendum.
The public position taken by Senator
Reed Of this State and Gov. Smith OF
New York on prohibition naturally
causes the prohibition question to lead
in public discussion. Reed and Smith
are the first and second choice. respcc-
lively, in Missouri for the Democratic
presidential nomination.
Hay Drive Gains.
There is also tendency in Missouri
to line up State candidates in opposing
ranks wet or dry. Charles M. Hay OF
st. Louis an outstanding dry leader.
is making strong Roadway III his race
for the Democratic nomination to sue
coed Senator Reed. Immediately after
the Democratic State convention Feb
r,lary IS. at which 1t is expected an IN
structed Reed delegation to the national
convention will be chosen. the Reed
supporters probably VIII bring out
senatorial candidate to oppose Hay The
most probable choice is James A. Collet
of Salisbury. a personal supporter OF
Reed during the Senator's many years
of factional fighting with the Woodrow
Wilson forces In Missouri. Although
Collet has not made public his position
on prohibition, 1t is believed he Is mod
erately wet
For governor. the Democrats have
Francis NJ Wilson, former United States
district attorney here, who has bulk
of the organization support. wilson mas
a dry record. but his support is coming
largely from party leaders who opposed
prohibition in former years. the otncr
gubernatorial candidates are A. l.. NC
Cawley, State Senator, author OF tne
bone-dry State enforcement law. under
which about 200 men and women now
are serving terms in the state pcnl-
Tertiary. and Charles A. Lee. State SUI
perinterdent OF schools also dry.
Hyde Makes Bid.
On the Republican side. leading po-
tentia! candidate for United States Sen
ator is Arthur NJ. Hyde. former gov
ernor. who is both personally and po-
litically dry. If he announces he VIII
have the support Of substantial part
of the Republican State organization
For governor the outstanding candidate
is Judge Henry S. Caulfield Of ST. Louis.
former member of Congress, who Is IN
dorsed By the St. Louis organization
Another guberna'orial candidate Is DR..
James Stewart. secretary of State Board
of Health. an avowed wet" Phil A.
Bennett. lieutenant governor, also
candidate. is a dry"
The agitation over prohibition natu-
rally will have some bearing on presi-
dental results in Missouri, especially
so, IL the State candidates make 1t one
of the paramount issues. IN the last
two off-year elections the wet" votes
decided two conteSts-they elected Sen
ator Reed in 1922. and Senator Harry
B. HAYES in 1926. when the latter
publicly declared III favor OF modislca-
ton OF the Volstead law.
Republican presidential politics In
Missouri are beginning to livcn up. The
Hoover for President committee here Is
organizing by wards. The anti-Hoovcr
leaders here. most Of whom formerly
we're for Frank o. Lowden, are begin
ming TO swing 10 Senator Charles
Curtis OF Kansas. Steps have been
taken toward the organization OF a
Curtis Club here.
Curtis Has City Strength.
The Curtis strength in Missouri Is
believed To be confined largely 10 this
city, where many former kansans re-
side cat State the opposition tn
Hoover Is forming behind iowden and
Vice President Dawes.
The Lowdcn boom has been slipping. !
but may pick up with the announce
ment that a State manager has been
selected 10 lead the campaign for thc
former Governor OF Illinois. As yet
none of the hackers of potential presi-
Dental candidates has advocated an IN |
structed delegation from Missouri. but
that may be done at any time. pre-
a lively pre- convention fight.
The Republican drift In the State
probably viii be learned at the annual
Lincoln day banquet Of the Young Re-
putIicans' Association. 10 be held next
Monday In Jefferson City, Republican
State leaders and candidates from all
parts Of Missouri viii attend.
T. &. Afford.