Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
DEMOCRATIC DRYS MAY
ASK FOR FLING IN 1882
George of Georgia and Robinson of
Arkansas Outstanding Possibilities if
Vets Can Be Induced to Yield.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

less tnan coming events, cast
their shadows before. In this
i sense, certain recent incidents
In national politics have cast
long shadows that point toward the
presidential situation as it will shape
itself in the campaign of two years
from now, in 1892. What is dealt with
here, particularly, is the Democratic
situation. Certain recent events in
New York State have pointed rather
strongly toward one outcome of that
Any speculation about whom the
Democrats may nominate for the pres
tdency In 1882 must start with the
familiar fact that the party has dry
wing and wet wing. The terms dry
and wet" are as loose and unsatisfac-
tory IN this connection as in any other.
A dry" may mean a man who takes
any one of several positions within the
dry range. Similarly, a wet" NAV be
q man who merely believes in modiflca-
ton of the Volstead act to permit
mildly alcoholic drinks; or he may be
man unwilling to have national pro-
hibition, but yet willing to have State
prohibition; or he may be a man
violently opposed to all prohibition.
Both the words are loose in meaning;
and their looseness. unfortunately, in
duceS a corresponding looSeness- into
all discussions Of the prohibition oues-
ton. Nevertheless, for purposes of con-
venience, we have no words that are
more clearly defined, and the public
knows within limits what is meant,
roughly, by a wet and dry"
George and Robinson.
Dividing the Democratic presidential
possibilities into "drys" and "wetS, -"
and considering the "drys" FIRST there
are two outstanding names that figure
in the discussions of politicians at
Washington. One is Senator George of
Georgia; the other Senator, and Demo-
cratic leader of the Senate, Joseph T.
Robinson of Arkansas.
OF the two. Senator Robinson has
certain obvious qualifications that give
him q rather greater Importance The
fact that he is the Democratic leader
OF the Senate gives him a certain ele-
walton. His prominence as one Of the
American delegates to the Conference
for Limitation of Armament at London
gives him added prominence.
More than both these distinctions,
however, Senator Robinson is thrust
forward by the fact that he was his
1928. That fact caused Senator Rob-
3nson to become acquainted with q
large number of persons and places
throughout the country-and caused
the public as well as Democratic lead
ers in all parts of the country to be-
come acquainted. and favorably Inn
pressed, with Robinson.
Further yet, Senator Robinson, by
being the Democratic nominee for the
Vice Presidency, by running on the
same ticket with Gov. Smith, by fight
ing hard for the ticket, acquired, so to
speak, Q certain amount Of claim on
the vets within the Democratic party.
Senator Robinson, during the 1928
campaign, acquired the good opinion
OF the wet Democratic leaders In the
North and East. They felt that ne
played the game" loyalty, and under
oifncult circumstances. Not only did
these leaders Of the wet wing Of the
party have this kind Of appreciation of
the Arkansas Senator, they came to
feel, also, that he Is Of presidential
quality. aa
Turn About Possible.
The value to Senator Robinson of
this experience can be understood by
considering q view that is Sometimes
taken about the next Democratic pres
1dential nomination. It is occasionally
said that the next nomination will be
determined on basis of turn about
Is fair play" The assumption Is that
the leaders Of the dry wing Of the
Democratic party will speak to the
leaders Of the wet wing in substance
as follows:
I'VE let your man, Gov. Smith.
have the nomination In 1923; we fought
Loyalty for him and did our best to
bring victory to him; he fought gal
1antly and well but he failed; since
ne failed We feel that In 1882 you
should let the nomination 60 to a dry
and let us now show what the drys
can do toward victory"
Similarly, it is sometimes said that
the South, as the South, win ask for
the next Democratic nomination on an
analogous plea. The picture proposed
Is that the Southern leaders of the
party viii address the Northern lead
ers IN substance as follows:
"The South has been consistently
Democratic since the Civil War; In
mas contributed more than half the
total Democratic electoral votes; never
thelesS, In all that time, the South has
never been honored with q presidential
nomination, excepting John w. Davis,
who was born in the border State of
West Virginia and was nominated from
New York State, and excepting Wood
row Wilson, who, although brought up
In the South, was nominated from the
State Of New Jersey.
From this way of thinking also-and
It Is . potent way of thinking among
politicians-Senator Robinson Of Ar
kansas has claims to being what the
politicians call a logical candidate"
It Is possible the Democratic candi-
date for the presidency in 1882 may
be determined along the lines suggested
above. If any such lines as these are
followed Senator Robinson Is obviously
IN strong position. Every Democrat
In Washington realizes this and Sem
ator Robinson'S name comes forward
in every discussion Of the party's plans
for 1882.
Three Wet Possibilities.
II we turn now to the wet posi-
bilities, there are at least three. One,
and the first, obviously, Is former Gov.
Smith himself. If Gov. Smiths friends
should want the nomination for him
they could almost certainly get it.
They have control of the party ma
lection, Mr.. Raskob, Is chairman Of the
Democratic national committee. This
Is strictly according to custom. Always
It happens in both parties that the
presidential nominee, as IN 1928,
chooses the chairman Of the national
committee. and practically always 1t
continues to hold ONCE for four years
until the next succeeding nomination Is
made.
Also, It would be quite reasonable for
former Gov. Smiths friends to ask for
the nomination for him. He Is rather
more entitled to a second nomination
than Bryan was to a second nomina-
ton In 1900 and a third one in 1908.
FORMER Gov. Smith, In terms Of the
popular vote, received several million
more votes than any other Democrat
who ever ran for the presidency. While