New Britain herald., 1930-03-18
Closest Approach to Refer endum in History of Law Seen as Result - Vets Hope to Make Each Candidate State Views.

Washington. March IS Op)- Prohibition will play q more import- ant part in the coming congressional elections than in any since the eight "cnth amendment was adopted. in the opinion of political leaders here.
 Already it has taken the leading place in the key state of Massachu sets, where former Senator William M. Butler, former chairman of the republican national committee. has Just declared he stands with presi- dent Hoover against modification.
 Plan to Force Stand
 Preparation are being made by wet and dry groups to force every candidate for the house and senate on record as to prohibition and mod 1ification. Some who have been able 10 ride through ono campaign after another avoiding prohibition as an issue are likely to be forced on rec ord now.
 The result is that the congression- al elections this year arc expected 10 be as much in the nature of a referendum on prohibition as is possible under the American political system.
 In every election for the last ten years drys have worked systematical- " to Increase their strength in con- gress. They have seen it rise slowly until it is more than three fourths dry nominally. Despite the agitation of vets, drys are at their highest peak in congress.
 loss this year would have a de- featist effect on many. It probably would be reflected in a general at tempt of politicians in both parties would be reflected up for tho presi- dcntial campaign two years later.
 This is why the congressional elec- tions this year are a1l-important. They will point the way for some years to come.
 Two Points Stressed
 Dry strategy, it is expected, will be based on two main objectivcs, first, 10 convince tho country that prohibi- tion, with all of it's faults, has been far better than the old-t saloon {: second, to convince the country that another ten years trial will provide a sounder basis for judging its mer- it's. Raymond Robins, Chicago ccon- omist, urged this latter point before the house judiciary committee this week.
 Wet startcGy will be directed to- ward building q feeling throughout the country that prohibition has fail cd after decade, that conditions arc growing worse and that prohibition faults are greater than it's virtues. Big names like those of Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison, w. W. Atterbury and Pierre Dupont will head an cx- pert propaganda battle on both sides.
 Since a politician regards it as his foremost business to win, those in both parties arc eagerly watching the numerous straws now tossing about in tho wind. Declarations like that of the Union League and National Republican clubs in New York arc influential in the cast though in the west republicans arc more inclined to discount them as q product of wet New York.
 Poll ArouscS Interest
 The Literary Digest poll, because of it's nation wide scope will be studied like election figures.
 But regardless of straw votes, rcso- lutions and declarations, neither par ty as whole will take any national position on prohibition this year, in the opinion of practically all politi- clans. Both parties have extreme wet and dry wings which cannot be re- concilcd during the coming cam paign. It will be each candidate for himself,