Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-27
1882 WET PLANK
QUESTION RAISED
Recent Developments in Both
Parties Cause Leaders
to Ponder Issue.
ny FRANCIS NJ. STEPHENSON,
Associated Press stan Writer.


Associated Press Stan Writer.
With prohibition persistently bobbing
up in politics this year, national party
leaders are wondering II this issue is 20
be drawn In the 1882 presidential CAM
| paign.
In other words, the political leaders
| are wondering II either Of the two ma
tional parties will adopt . wet plank
| two years hence for the first time since
adoption of the eighteenth amendment,
and whether either will nominate wet
| candidate.
President Hoover supported the eight
zenith amendment In his 1928 race, and
Alfred +. Smith ran as a wet. but the
democratic platform was not wet. Mr..
Hoover declared against repeal of the
| eighteenth amendment and, in effect,
against modification.
Mr.. Hoover'S utterances are regarded
rs putting the Republican party in the
dry column nationally. but the ranks of
both the Republicans and Democrats
are divided on this question. The New
YORK state Republicans have declared
Tor repeal, as has Dwight w. Morrow.
Republican senatorial nominec In New
Jersey.
Law Board Report Awaited.
| Meanwhile, as the Republican admin
lStration waits for the report of the Law
Enforcement Commission on its inquiry
o. prohibition, Democrats are speculat.
Gov. Roosevelt Of New York and James
A. Reed Of Missouri for prohibition re-
peal VIII have on the next Democratic
convention. Both are viewed as presi-
Dental possibilities.
Chairman Tydings of the Democratic
senatorial Campaign COMMITTEES has de-
clafed prohibition an issue in many of
the campaigns this year, and most Of
tne Democratic senatorial candidates in
sne North and East are running to vets,
Witn wet planks in number of State
platforms. Chairman Raskob of the
repeal.
But the Democratic stronghold Of
the Southland Is dry, and II q wet
plank gets into the next Democratic
platform 1t will be over the determined
opposition Of this section of the party.
senator Robinson Of Arkansas, who
recently was renominated and who has
been advanced by his State for the
Democratic presidential nomination, is
bition.
Hoover Quoted on Views.
In view of the recent prohibition out
breaks and the prospect of action by
the Law enforcement Commission on
this subject, political leaders have looked
over President Hoover's views on pro.
hibition. Here is what he said when
ne wrote to Senator Borah. Republican,
Idaho, In 1928 as candidate for the
Republican nomination and what ne
repeated when he accepted that nonai-
nation:
IT do not favor the repeal of the
eighteenth amendment. ] stand for
the efheient enforcement of the laws
enacted hereunder. Whoever is chosen
President has under his oath the solemn
duty to pursue this course.
"Our country has deliberately under-
taken q great social and economic
experiment. noble In motive and far
reaching in purpose. 1t must be worked
out ecnstructjvely."
He added, In his speech Of acceptance,
Modification OF the enforcement laws
which would permit that which the
This the American people viii not coun-
National Republican leaders are silent
on the news from Albany that the New
York state convention adopted repeal
plank,
prys belittle the etfsst Of the move,
dicted 1t would have no bearing on the
next national convention Of the party.
stimson Talk omits Subject.
Secretary stimson, head of Presi-
dent Hoover's cabinet, delivered the key
note address TO the New York State
Convention. but he said nothing on the
/ Many here conceded that the con-
version of the New York Republican
organization to the cause of prohibition
repeal would be likely TO bring this issue
before the next National Convention,
but Senator Brookhart of Iowa, Re
publican dry, predicted President Hoover
would keep the party dry" and, he
| added, wall street will lie down to
| him."
Rrookhart said, eve haven't lost q
| thing" because the New York Repub-
licans had adopted the repeal platform.
He said Santor Wadsworth, Repub-
lican. had run as wet in New York
in 1928. and he is ex-senator Wads-
worth now"
senator sheppard, Democrat, Texas.
another dry, said the New York Re-
| publican wetness "has no material sig
nificance." He believed 1T just reflects
the wet sentiment of New York City,
which has always been wet"
Brookhart recalled that the New York
Republicans, led by former Senator
i Ter. president of Columbia University,
had urged q wet plank unnecessarily
ct the last Republican National Con-
vention.
Chairman Tess Of the Republican
National Committee and Senator Wat
son Of Indiana, Republican leader in
the Senate, withheld comment on the
New York action.
With the Hoover administration TAX
| ing no mart In the wet and dry ann
troversy, interested continued to center
on the forthcoming report of the Law
| Enforcement Commission, which has
han,. st,,d,rira. 49, .aroLiaiAio.. .iA,,n 49,.