New Britain herald., 1928-06-30
N. Y. Governor Ha,
Forced the Issue Re-
gardless Of Whatever
Stand Is Taken by
Secretary Herbert
Hoover.
Lines Sharply Drawn in
Battle Which May Be-
come Most Critical Pc.
litical Question in Coun-
try's History Since Slav-
cry.

Houston, June 80 (UP)-Dry
forces which brought about federal
prohibition are now facing their real
crisis.
After test OF more than eight
years. the Volstead act, drafted by
the late Wayne b. Wheeler. head CT
the Anti Saloon league. is about to
be placed in judgment.
That is what the candidacy of
Gov. Alfred L. Smith means in view
of his declaration to the democratic
national convention that he feels ii
his duty as the leader of the party to
point the way to a different solution
of the liquor problem.
Sharply Drawn
The issue is sharply drawn and
may perhaps become the most criu-
cal political question since slavery,
for 1t goes down to the most funda-
mental beliefs of the average man.
The conflict is between those who
believe it is every mans right TO
decide whether he shall drink in
toxicating liquor or not and those
who believe liquor is bad and the
federal government should UNDER
take to deny 1t to all. 1t is between
those who believe in permitting the
individual to discipline himself ana
those who believe the government
should do It because some arc too
week to be trusted by their own
responsibility.
Pledge Enforcement
The democrats have adopted
platform pledging strict law en-
forcement and avoiding all reference
to the modification issue. The re-
publicans have done the same thing.
So there is nothing partisan in point
ing out that both OF these planks
are platitudes because every Office
holder takes pledge to enforce the
lava
A president or any other officia,
VINO refused to enforce the laws
would be subject to impeachment.
Inc issue Is whether the law
should stand or be changed. Smith
mas declared 1t should be changed.
Hoover. the republican candidate.
has not declared himself but the az
gressive fight which Smith apparent
ly intends to make on the modifica-
ton issue probably will force Hoov-
er to take a definite stand. Most
politicians believe the republican
party will take the dry side.
Forces Issue
Regardless of the stand Hoover
takes. Smith has forced the issue.
Either way Hoover goes on modif-
cation or II he never defines his po-
sition. the drys will be facing their
first real test since prohibition. Un-
til now no presidential candidate has
come out frankly for modification
Smith has put the question up to
the country and there will be no
escaping it In the election. The
backbone OF the fight necessarily will
fall to the Anti Saloon league. the
organization which wrote the 18th
amendment and the Nolstead act
into the law OF the land. The leagu.
goes into 1t deprived Of the expert
services OF the late Wayne B. Wheel
er who bore the burden OF the
original battle. Many affiliated dry
organizations and church societies
will pool their forces
Technically nothing can be done
toward notifications unless a con-
gress favorable 70 modification 10
elected. Congress has been three
quarters dry for several years. A
president can only recommend laws.
He also can veto them but with a
two-thirds majority in congress such
bills can be passed over his head.
Override Veto
As congress stands today q wet
president vetoing enforcement legis-
lation could be easily overridden.
However. most real causes are
bound UP in personalities and Smith
is such a dramatic figure now and
he is SO definitely Identified az the
champion of the modificationists.
that his victory or defeat will have
a tremendous psychological effect
and psychological effects have very
real consequences in politics. A
victory for Smith would encourage
modification sentiment which would
be later repealed in congress and
his defeat likewise would make the
cause Of the vets seem hopelss.
Most drys concede that Smith 10
the strongest figure the vets have.
II they cannot win with Smith they
can not win with anybody. II the
drys beat Smith they need not fear
for the safety Of the prohibition
laws for the present at any rate.
This Is why the candidacy Of 0ov.
Smith brings the prohibitionists face
to face with their most serious
crisis.