Evening star., 1930-06-04

Differing views as 10 the sentiments
OF those who voted for modification IN
the prohibition poll OF the Literary d.
gest make definite conclusions dttncult.
Many Of the countrywide comments
indicate dissatisfaction with the present
conditions. Others see in the Pennsyl-
vania primary a challenge to the repre-
sentative character Of the poll. TWO
queries seem to be uppefmost: What Is
wanted by those who voted for modin-
cation? How many women ana now
many Of the plain people received PAL
lots TO cast?
portion of the population is dissatisfied
With the present condition" says the
san Francisco Chronicle. with the Sug--
Testion that there Is danger that what
good has been gaine3 by the present
| experiment will be lost unless some
workable formula be found that Is gen.
orally acceptable to q seh-governng
people" The Scranton Times hnds IN
dications that sentiment is increasing
at a steady rate against the law" The
| Charleston Evening Post feels that "of
very large and representative cross
section of the American people the great
majority are dissatisfied with the pres
ent conditions relative TO the control OF
alcoholic liquors"
Studying the figures, the Chattanooga
Times remarks: Dividing the total vote
between those who do not favor q
change, or the enforcers, and those who
want q change, or the notification
and repealers grouped, the result Is
dissatisfaction vote Of 1854
per cent an overwhelming majority"
"In an actual and unclouded con-
| test" the Cincinnati TimeS-Star thinks,
| "the drys and vets might prove almost
equal In numbers. Obviously, the bal
ance OF power Is with the so-called
damps, those for modification rather
than for the present system or Its re-
peal" The Tulsa World advises: "A
more honest alignment upon the various
phases Of the matter may come around
very soon. Realignments will take place.
The deliberately expressed opinions OF
nearly 100000 people form basis for
discarding hysteria and fighting 1t out
on the facts"
Under wise leadership" states the
Columbus Ohio State Journal, "the
straw vote can have q far-reaching in
fuence. In the picture, 1t Is plain that
| wet leaders are not in control, nor are
modificationiStS or prohibitionists. The
showing should help silence the noisy.
ranting speakers In all groups, but prob
ably 1t will not have that fine result"
The Worcester Telegram observes: THE
skeptical will point to the fact that the
number Of voters was but 100000.
More than 36,00O,000 voted for Mr..
Hoover and Mr.. Smith" The Waterloo
Tribune comedies that I'VE have in the
figures minority opinion" but adds that,
after all, elections are participated in
by minority and won on q minority
vote"
Assuming that the prohibition poll Is
as nearly accurate as was the presi-
dental poll by the Literary Digest, the
country stands 40 per cent for repeal, 80
per cent for modification and 80 per
cent for prohibition as is,' but strictly
enforced. And where do we get from
there? Just nowhere. We stay right
where we are," concludes the Omaha
World-H Herald. The Milwaukee journal
offers the judgment that "one thing
seems sure-the desire for q change in
our law is not yet great enough to be
# e shows anythng that people eo shave have
been moving out of the twilight zone in
the past eight years. 1t also shows that
they have been moving toward repeal
rather than toward enforcement" The
Lynchburg News contends, "Prohibi-
tionists will be wise If they do not at
tempt to whistle this poll down the
wind, but study its meaning and change
their tactics"
1.-The vets, who have been greatly
cheered by the Digest poll" says the
Kansas City Star, undoubtedly suf-
fered heavy blow in the Pennsylvania
primaries. " Apparently the poll isn't
nearly so reliable political guide on
the prohibition issue as 1t is on candi-
dates for President. Possibly two con-
siderations account for this. One is that
women generally have strong views on
prohibition, and women were hardly
represented In the Digest poll. The
other is that men who are irritated by
the restrictions Of the Volstead act, and
Like 10 blow az steam On the mahject.