Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
DIGEST POLL SEEN
ASFALSE PREMISE
Senator Sheppard Would 0p-
pose Dry Referendum, But
Abide by Result.

Those who see the Straws pointing TO
ward repeal Of the prohibition amend
ment in the national poll of the Literary
Digest are basing their hopes upon q
false premise, In the opinion OF Sena-
tor Morris Sheppard of Texas, father
of the eighteenth amendment" he dis
closed yesterday.
In addition to expressing his views
toward the potentialitieS of the Literary
Digest straw vote in which the maya
zine attempted to obtain q cross -stratum
view of the wet or dry feeling in the
United States, Senator Sheppard am
plified a recent statement on what his
actions would be should the people OF
Texas. in a referendum, demand q
change in the prohibition act.
1.-The Digest poll shows majority
against the repeal of the eighteenth
amendment" Senator Sheppard de-
clared, "inasmuch as those who favored
modification in the way Of granting OF
light wines and beer under the eigh-
tenth amendment. The poll does not
in any way affect materially the per-
manent status of prohibition.
Final TabuIatiOn.
The final count in the poll of the
Literary Digest, AS Announced last week,
was a. follows: For repeal, 1,943, 052, or
20 a. Der cent; for Modification, $780,
3lA, or 29.I1 per cent; for enforcement
Of existing dry statutes, 1,464 ,09S, or
30. 46 per cent.
There can be no in-betwen status,
such as proposed by the modification
element. Senator Sheppard indicated.
He pointed out that, in his opinion, the
majority Of those who favored modifica-
ton in the straw vote would vote
against repeal Of existing prohiDiSion
statutes.
Senator sheppard's position on pos
gEble prohibition referendum In the
state Of Texas was restated and am.
peifled by him yesterday, In view OF
comment In Eastern newspaper that
he was weakening toward prohibition
O. had changed his attitude. be
ecouted such statements aS absard and
reasserted his bone-dry stand in this
concise statement:
Bound by Law.
SHOULD the people Of Texas, IN Q
referendum, ask for q change, then my
duty would be 10 seek that change, but
can oppose freely the submission OF
any question fora referendum, although
I cannot 60 against the dictates OF
such q vote" he explained.
Senator Sheppard cited Texas lava
which require candidate for nonina-
ton as Senator, as one of the requisites
for q place on the primary ballot, to
state that he would, II elected, endeavoT
truly to respect the wish Of his con-
stituency, and to abide by and support
such measures as may be Endorsed by
the voters in an election.
This pledge was embodied in Senator
Sheppard's application for q place on
the primary ballot Of the Democratic
party in Texas in the forthcoming July
election No change in his stanch
advocacy of prohibition Is to be found
in his platform for reelection, the
Senator declared.
In respect to a referendum, he con-
cluded with the statement that should
q referendum on any question result
in creating situation Of this char
acter," such as favuring a change in
the prohibition laws, IT would attempt
to change the views of the people
although observing their expressed
wishes in my official capacity"