Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-14
Speaking Of Splits

AS . matter of fact they merely en-
phasize the splits, confined to no party
or faction, already chief characteristic
OF discussion over prohibition as prin-
ciple and as q fact. There is already. a
distinct split between the wet Republic
cans of the Atlantic seaboard and the
big cities and the dry Republicans OF
the Middle West. But it is no more
marked than the T7lit between the wet
Democrats OF the forth and East and
the dry Democrats Of the industrial
and aErarian South. There is a split
between the drys who might in COM
promise tolerate beer as non-intoxicat-
ing and the drys who oppose any COM
promise on principle or for expediency.
BUT 1t 10 no more marked than the split
between the vets who denounce prohi-
bition a. q violation of personal liberty
and the vets who consign this particu-
lar personal liberty issue to the limbo
Of other bunk; between the vets who
protest the theory Of prohibition by con-
stitutional amendment, and the vets
who would merely change the form of
the constitutional amendment.
The list Of factions could be pro-
Ionged indefinitely. One might consid-
er the difference between the faction
headed by DR. Nicholas Murray Butler,
with his demand for the repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment, and the faction
which desires repeal of the eighteenth
amendment, but which does not believe
that Is now possible, and which would
therefore nullify the Volstead act end
allow each State TO do as 1t pleases.
And these two could be contrasted with
the faction headed by Dwight Morrow
Of New Jersey, who believes in strict
law enforcement; who would repeal the
eighteenth amendment, but would put
another amendment in its place, SUBJ
shutting for DR.. Buffers "cowardice
and hypocrisy under Federal enforce
naent what is naturally to be assumed
would be the identical "cowardice and
hypocrisy under State enforcement
with the Federal Government lending
. hand.
At this stage OF the game the vets
are generally considered as united un-
der one banner. But the most super
fetal examination reveals how strange
is the union. It shows that the ardent
vet who loudly champions the fright
Of revolution" and protests the inva-
sion Of his personal liberty and his
right to drink what, when and where he
pleases, Is willing to spring with en-
thusiasm to the front seat Of Mr.. Nor
rows band wagon and applaud the
Senator rejects declaration that the
right Of the majority to impose its will
upon the minority Is unquestioned; that
the eighteenth amendment should be
repealed in favor of q substitute that
will restore to the States the power to
determine the policy toward the liquor
trafic and rest in the Federal Govern
ment power TO give all possible protec-
ton and assistance to those States that
desire complete prohibition against in
vasion from the States that do not"
If q referendum were proposed tc
the voters asking do you favor aboli-
ton Of trafEc congestion" intelligent
voters would refuse to answer it afirm-
atively, while favoring the principle
unless assured that abolition of trafie
congestion would not be attended BY
even more serious complications tc
convenience, speed and general bust
ness. Yet the voters in two of the State
referenda In the last election voted fol
repeal Of the eighteenth amendment,
without the faintest knowledge of what
II anything, would be substituted fol-
the eighteenth amendment, and With
no great interest shown in this NEST
serious aspect Of the problem. The vote
was hailed. and rightly. as wet VIC
tory" But what, and where, are the
fruits Of such victory?
The diversity of the splits and fire.
uuent exemplincations of a spirit Of
protest that ia, at best, blind, confuse
predictions concerning congressional
action ON any wet-dry issue. Ir
amending the Volstead law there Il
doubt concerning the number of drys
who viii for reasons of policy agree
that beer can be classed as non-intoxi.
eating under the eighteenth amend
ment. For any drastic amendment Of
repeal or notification of the Volsteac
law the vets must have not only Z
majority Of both houses, but enough
votes to overcome q possible veto b.
. President elected ON . dry platform
and pledged to law enforcement.
These splits render even more din
cult the alteration or repeal Of thu
eighteenth amendment. Many Of tn,
vets would feel their personal libert!
as much outraged by State as by Ma.
tionaI prohibition and would feel thu
same moral" urge TO resist enforcement
Of the new amendment as of the old
It would be as difIicult to protect the DIR,
states against liquor from the we
states Is It Is now 10 protect the whol'
of America from liquor inflow from
Canada on the North and from tn
ocean on the East and West.
Unity Of effort would be necessar,
even to amend the eighteenth amend
ment. And such unity Is not nov
apparent.