Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-04
DEMOCRATS MAY
ASK DRY. INQUIRY
Senate Lobby Committee
May Be Asked to Probe All
Sides of Prohibition.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Just when it was believed that the
investigation of prohibition had been
headed of by the Republican admins
tration, the Democrats may take adj
vantage Of the RaSkob incident and
turn the Senate lobby committee into
fact- tinding agency, with references
TO the influences, financial and other
wise, fighting on the west and dry sides
Senator Robinson of Indiana insisted
that John j. Raskob, chairman of the
Democratic national committee, reveal
his contributions to the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment
The effort to get Mr.. Raskob on the
stand was a move to Offset the recent
inquisition of Claudius H. Huston
chairman of the Republican national
committee, who was called In connec-
ton with the Muscle Shoals lobby.
But the moment Mr.. Raskobs con-
nection with prohibition is opened up
there are Democrats who will want to
know about the funds being spent by
the Republican drys to influence public
opinion In Congress on the whole pro-
hibition question.
Drys Have Trouble.
For several years there have been ef-
forts to get at the sources Of the vari-
Gus Hobbies on the prohibition question
Both sides have been more or less op-
posed to an investigation because OF
the possibility that 1t might interfere
with the getting of more funds. Now
however, the vets have much more
money than they ever had before and
the drys are not having by any means
as easy time in raising money as they
used to have.
Theoretically, the attack on Mr..
Raskob and his wet program is an
a % -,I~g-
faced the Democratic party in 1928.
Actually. however, it may have a great
er influence in the Northern States,
where in most instances the Demo-
cratic party is lining up on the side
of modification, while the Republican
organizations are divided within them
selves on the prohibition issue.
In Indiana, where Senator Robinson
recently was reelected, the Republican
State organization is dry, but in States
like New York, Pennsylvania and Mas
sachusetts an attack by Republicans on
the Association Against Prohibition, in
which Mr.. Raskob is associated with
the leading Republicans, unquestionably
will be used on the stump as an argu-
ment against the Republican cause.
Robinson Follows Hoover.
Senator Robinson, on the other hand,
gram on prohibition, and there are
other Republicans who feel that the
time has come for a definite cleavage
with the Republican party standing for
enforcement Of existing law and no
modification and leaving 1t to the Dem
ocrats to take the other side.
Both the Republicans and Democrats
interested in prohibition have been
skirmishing and, until Mr.. Raskob was
summoned before the lobby committee,
neither would take the initiative In
dragging the prohibition issue into
further congressional hearings There
are suggestions, of course, that the
lobby committee may not go any fur
ther than the examination of Mr..
Raskob and his connection with the
Association Against the Prohibition
Amendment, but there Is no telling
what pressure may be brought to bear
to INQUIRE into the activities of all
organizations that are attempting to
influence Congress on the prohibition
issue.
Ccopyright, Is3o)