Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-03
The Political Mill
By G. Could Lincoln.

didates and poliy'es. In three of the
States they are called upon TO pass
upon the prohibition question-Massa-
chusetts, Illinois and Rhode Island.
All three States are expected to vote
wet" Illinois has the habit of voting
wet in these referendums. 1t did in
1922 and again in 1925. At the same
time the State kept right on electing
Republican dry candidates for Repre-
sentativ e-at-large and for Senator, In
opposition to wet Democratic canol-
dates. The Anti-Saloon League insisted
that the election of dry members of
Congress was sufilcient referendum for
1t and urged the voters Of the State not
TO pay any attention to the separate
question on the ballot dealing with the
wet and dry issue.
1t is beginning to look as though
the organized drys-an organized mi
nority in Illinois and In number of
the other States-have been getting
away with a lot politically. Illinois, for
example, has been a Republican State
for years. So have Massachusetts, and
Rhode Island. The organized drys have
been powerful enough to bring about
the nomination of men for Congress
by the Republican party who would
stand for dry legislation whenever 1t
came before them. The drys have found
it far easier to control the nomination
Of party candidates, in Republican and
Democratic States, than to carry the
States themselves on question that
placed the national prohibition issue
before the voters without any attendant
issues.
This year in Illinois and in New
York, for example, the drys have lost
their grip on the Republican organiza-
lions and upon candidates to very
al tn h.
lican State convention and Mrs. Ruth
Hanna Mccormick, the G.. o. p. NOM
inee for Senator, heading the ticket,
declared they would abide by the de-
cision of the voters in the wet and dry
referendum to be conducted next Tues
day. In New York the Republicans
Just kicked over the traces entirely and
came out for the repeal OF the eight
zenith amendment. 1t is not difficult to
understand the concern and the anger
Of the drys under these circumstances.
1t has been clear to them for long
time that majority of the voters in
New York and In Illinois are opposed
to national prohibition. Their only
hope in those populous States has been
to hang on to the tail Of the Elephant.
But when the Elephant shook them on,
they decided to hamstring the Elephant
If they were able to do so. They QUO
ocratic Donkey in 1928 when the
Democrats put forward a wet candi-
date for President.
y n 4 \
So in Illinois there is dry indie
pendent Republican running for Sena-
tor to take votes away from Mrs. NC
Cormick and crush, If possible, this up
rising of the Republicans against dry
To- In
York drys put into the field Prof. Rob-
ert F. Carroll Of Syracuse University
a Southerner and formerly a Demo-
cratic take votes away from Charles
H. Tuttle, the Republican candidate Tor
Governor, who had dared to declare
for repeal of the eighteenth amendment
Their tactics, it appears, are likely TO
be successful In both these States, and
the wet Democrats will elect their can
didates. It Is not likely that these
tactics will endear the drys to the Re
publican organizations in New York and
Illinois. But the drys have undertaken
to give these G. o. P. leaders a lesson.
49,
In Massachusetts the drys have still
been able to control the party nonina-
tions and the candidates of the Repub-
licans. Butler, the Republican candi-
date for the Senate, and Gov. Allen,
seeking to succeed himself, both have
the dry side in their contests with the
Democrats. Rhode Island, however,
saw Senator Metcalf, Republican, kick
over the water wagon in his effort to
be reelected. Metcaf came out in
favor of repeal OF the eighteenth
amendment, although he added that he
would vote, as Senator, on wet and dry
questions In accordance with the result
Of the State referendum. His position
differs from that Of Mrs. Mccormick,
for Mrs. Mccormick continues to insist
she Is dry and in favor of prohibit
ton, although she says she, too, will
be guided as Senator by the way the
people vote In the referendum in I'LL
nois. Senator Metcalf was too clever
for the Anti-Saloon League. He did
not make his announcement against the
eighteenth amendment until after the
last day for the filing of independent
candidates. The league and its fol-
lowers, therefore, were unable to put
dry Republican candidate in the field
there.
The referendums dealing with prohi-
bltion differ somewhat in the three
States. In Massachusetts, the question
Is whether the State prohibition en-
forcement act shall be repealed. Illinois
votes on the repeal of the State en-
forcement act and also on proposals
for the repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment and the modification of the Vol
stead act. Rhode Island merely votes
on the question whether the eighteenth
amendment shall be retained.
The reformerS out in Oregon are
seeking to place the State on record
against the use of cigarettes. A number
OF the Western States have at various
times had more or less stringent laws
against cigarettes. North and South
Dakota, for example. But where these
anti Cigarette laws have been passed,
the bootlegging Of cigarettes has -four
1shed. The Oregon referendum is on a
measure TO prevent the manufacture,
sale or possession of cigarettes or cigar
cite materials in that State.
&* y X
If Charles H. Tuttle. the Republican
candidate for Governor, should win in
New York tomorrow it would give many
OF the politicians and political observers
the surprise of their lives. Mr.. futile
insists that he will win, and win on the
issue of corruption and the sale of
1udgeships by Tammany officials in New
York City. He has to meet the an
tagonism Of the Republican drys, many
OF whom are supporting Carroll, the in
dependent dry, in addition to the
usual Democratic opposition. 1t would
seem that the odds are too great
although the scandals involving some
OF the New York judgeships and the
1ailure OF Gov, Roosevelt to press ac-
lively for investigation should be a real
issue in the campaign. The Repub-
leans insist they are an issue. But the
public, except some of the newspapers
does not appear to be aroused. How
ever, Gov. Roosevelt has been goaded
into last-minute defense of his atti-
tude by the speeches not only of Candi-
date futile but also of Secretary Slim
son and Secretary Hurley, not to men