Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-21
Butler Bolts Half Way.

DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler. preSi-
dent Of Columbia University and life
long Republican. takes issue sharply
with Mr.. Hoover on the score Of the
Republican candidates position and
remarks upon the subject Of prohibition
and also his references to national de-
Tense The latter question is beside
the mark, as there is no evidence that
the subject Of this country's prepared
ness for defense is an issue in the pres
ent campaign. On the matter of pro-
hibition DR.. Buffers position is well
known. He Is wet" has always
borne himself consistently as opposed
to the eighteenth amendment and as
a critic of the methods of enforcement
He could not we'll have spoken in the
campaign without expressing his views
short of stultifying himself. Whether
there was any specific occasion for him
TO speak now, unless In preparation for
change Of allegiance, remains to be
seen.
There<may be a certain elaboration
in the timing of this letter, written to
the New York Times and given forth
for general distribution through the
press. It comes on the eve OF Gov
Smiths speech Of acceptance, In which
it is to be confidently expected that the
Democratic candidate for President will
elaborate the views regarding prohibition
which were succinctly expressed in his
telegram to the national convention at
Houston informally accepting the NOM
nation. 1t requires no particular pre-
science to look for . vigorous attack
in tomorrow's speech upon the amend
ment and upon the manner In which
the legislation enacted under 1t has
been administered
The query most pertinent now Is
whether DR.. Butler, upon reading Gov.
Smiths statement in his address of
acceptance, will take the next logical
step and declare his support of the
Democratic nominee, In cont avention
to his lifelong record as q Republican.
He has repudiated the Republ IN nom
inee upon two counts. WIN he make
that reputation effective by accepting
the Democratic nominee as representa-
tive Of his own views and ideals?
Indeed. this present letter from DR.
Butler Is already hailed with satisfac-
ton by the Democratic campaigns man
ayers. At the same time 1t is discussed
by the Republican leaders with evil
dences of equal satisfaction, though the
latter are not as assuredly jubilant as
their opponents. The only comfort, in
deed, that the Republican campaign
directors can derive from this detection
Is that it serves TO draw the lines more
closely upon the prohibition question,
and they declare their confidence that
the dry vote is larger than the wet
vote, and that whatever tends TO align
the two parties on this question makes
for Republican victory.
Unless Prof. seligman, also of Co
lumbia University, whom Chairman
Raskob has asked to find q specific
formula for farm relief that will supply
the Democratic party with vote-win-
ming slogan in the agricultural West.
comes forth with satisfactory solution,
the prohibition question remains as the
dominant issue of the campaign. Or.
Buffers declaration that he cannot fol-
low Mr.. Hoover on two questions, Of
which this Is the more significant and
important, assuredly concentrates pub
| lie thought upon the difference between
the two parties as now set up In battle
array on the score Of the eighteenth
amendment and the measure OF its en-
| forcement