New Britain herald., 1930-10-09
COLONEL SEYMOUR'S NAIVE HESITANCY

quit trying to go back to Congress he essayed a statement on his at titude toward prohibition. It was a definite statement and held that he was willing to support any move ment brought into Congress having the object of modifying or erasing the law in favor of other means of liquor control. In other words, he made haste to impress the district that he was quite wet, and at heart had always been that way.
 Even this long-delayed definite ness about the dry law did him no good in the estimation of the politi- cal moguls. however, and he was ditched in favor of Colonel Clarence w. Seymour of Hartford, young up-and- coming aspirant who has pleased the grandoldparty head men and who is touted as a sure some body in the future political field.
 So many kind words have been spoken about Colonel Seymour by the districts Republicans that MT. Fenn, not entirely blind to the i'm plcations of these honeyed phrases, must be set to thinking hard as he sits in his study at Wethersfield.
 But Colonel Seymour, for all his good points, has failed to say as much about prohibition as Con sressman Fenn. When one contem- plates the pretty straddle he per petrated on the question the other day one cannot help concluding the Crusaders took the only possible ac- tion when they formally decided the colonel was not for them to support.
 Here is what Colonel Seymour is quoted saying about the prohibition law:
 If I am elected and if, after I have made a careful study of the general situation at Washington, I am satisfied that the situation re- quires working for a repeal l will be for repeal. If. on the other hand. am convinced that other reme edial legislation, such as modification of the Volstead Act by Congress, or an amendment to the amendment itself, is more feasible and will bring prompter results. reasonably satis- factory in their nature, I shall be for that"
 Here is a candidate who requires more time for study and reflection about the noble experiment., and who after such study and reflection must become personally satisfied that the situation demands a change.
 Compared with this white-gloved dilly- -dallying on an important issue the position taken by Augustine Lonergan is refreshing. MT. Loner- gan needs no qualifying words, phrases or an abundance of commas and ifs" to indicate where he stands. Speaking on several occa- sions since his nomination he has stated definitely and without mental reservation or verbal evasion that he is for the repeal of the 18th amendment. and if elected, will work toward that end and thus take the step needed to revert liquor control to the individual states.
 Out-and-out drys in the district. of course, will be more pleased with Colonel Seymour's straddling pro- nouncement than with Mir. Loner- gan's aight-forwardness They realize fully that what the colonel says won't bind him to vote for re- peal, modification or anything in particular. His is the type of atti- tude that the drys naturally prefer. This being a free country they are entitled to their preference.
 But it should not be overlooked by the, modificationists, who un- doubtedly are far in the majority throughout the district, that MT. doubt as to where he stands on the issue. Such frankness, we think, should be rewarded.