Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-17
.EAST'S c. O.P. HELD
NOT YET BONE DRY
Massachusetts Primary Be-
Iieved No More Significant
Than Tuttle's Stand.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


The Republican party in the East has
by no means surrendered to the drys.
The outcome Of Tuesdays primaries
in Massachusetts, in which former SEN
ator william M. Butler, dry, won the
Republican nomination over Eben S.
Draper, a wet, was hardly more signifi-
cant than the form of the announce
ment whereby United States Attorney
futile came out for repeal OF the eight
zenith amendment and at the same time
. told his party colleagues he did not wish
/ to be considered for the Republican
nomination for Governor of New York.
While here and there were wet victo-
! ries in the contests for Congress, the
Connecticut Republicans nominated a
dry for Governor, and the Ohio Demo-
Gratis, on the advice of their senatorial
candidate, Robert Buckley, omitted the
prohibition issue altogether by adopting
platform advocating law enforcement.
New York Significant.
Although the Democrats in Ohio were
told by Mr.. Buckley, a wet, that they
need not put repeal plank In their
platform, the truth is that the Demo-
Gratis in Ohio are not any more conf
I dent than are the Republicans in New
NS%N--~~-N
the party to g. definite stand on the re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment.
What is happening in New York is
rather significant of tee fact that per-
sonality is the guide rather than issues
in selecting candidates. Even II the
candidate happens to have views some
what opposed to large elements In his
own party, politicians are taking a
! chance on the popularity Of the man
rather than the handicap he may bring
with respect to his views.
Thus Mr.. Tuttle, in sending his resig-
nation to Mr.. Hoover as United States
attorney and coming out In favor OF
repeal of the eighteenth amendment, Is
expressing his personal view when he
saws he does not wish to be considered
for the Republican nomination for Gov
ernor. 1t means that If the Republican
party in New York wants to take a
chance on naming him anyhow. in the
face of certain opposition from the
drys it will be the responsibility OF the
State political leaders. Several Of the
latter conferred in New York with Mr..
futile before he made his announce
ment and the problem is now not Mr..
Tuttle's, but that of the Republican
chieftains.
Morrow Influence Seen.
In New Jersey the Republicans were
not ready to put repeal plank In thel
platform. and would not have done sc
had 1t not been for the insistence OF
Dwight Morrow Immediately after his
overwhelming triumph in the senatorial
primary. Several of the dry leaders re-
| fused to construe the big vote given tc
Mr.. Morrow as due to the dry issue, ou'
| to his public career and ability. Thus
there exists dissension in the ranks IN
New Jersey, but it will not be sufficient
to affect Mr.. Morrow's chances.
Some of the New York State Repub-
lican leaders who come from dry sec
lions are so anxious to get good candl-
date for Governor in order to make q
real bid for the governorship which has
not been in the hands of the Repub-
licans for decade, that they are willing
to overlook Mr., TuttleS views ana re-
gard them as personal.
AS a matter of fact with Gov. Roose-
welt advocating repeal of the eighteenth
amendment there are Republican
chieftains who think that similar
stand by Mr.. futile will take the Is
sue out of the campaign altogether
The Anti-Saloon League, however, is
getting ready to nominate a third
candidate in the hope of Furnishing
the Republican vets for their tactics
Prohibition, therefore, still remains
q personal and local issue, which can
be overshadowed by the personality OF
the candidate and his suitability for
public Office on other grounds than the
wet and dry issue. The evidence thus
far in the congressional campaign
shows that in the wet States of the
East the Democrats have gone over
completely to the side of repeal, but
that the Republicans are still divided
on the question.
(CopyriEht, ie3o)