Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-29
The Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.

nominate GOV. Franklin d. Roosevelt to
succeed himself. That has been fore
gone conclusion for months. The
Democrats in New York and the rest of
the country have rather taken it for
granted that Mr.. Roosevelt would be
reelected and that he would be prin-
cipal contender for the presidential
nomination of the party in 1882. But
the clouds have gathered on the Demo-
cratic horizon in New York.
AS usual, "Tammany" seems to be at
the bottom of the trouble for the
Democrats. The Republicans have un-
earthed reported scandals in the Demo-
cratic city government of New York.
They have brought about the indict-
ment of one of the judges and the
Tamrnany leader to whom 1t was al
legged a payment of $4,000 was made
when the judge was appointed. The
corruption issue has become the domi-
nant issue of the campaign, with
Charles H. Tuttle, United States attor-
ney, as the Moses arisen to lead the
G. o. P. out of the wilderness. Should
Gov. Roosevelt fail to carry New York
this Fall the picture for 1882 will be
greatly changed.
That applies not alone to the Demo-
cratic camp, but to the Republican.
The Republicans in New York not only
nominated Tuttle, a foe of the eight
zenith amendment, but adopted plank
in their party platform calling for re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment If
wet Republican candidate can carry
New York State on wet platform, the
G.. 0. P. may have to revise its ideas
al Tor bxyf "a "A
Republican party has been the dry
party as between Democrats and Re-
publicans during the. last few years.
But the indications are that 1t is be-
coming less dry as the months roll by.
&
Whether any political significance
should be attached to the announce
ment here Saturday by Prohibition Di-
rector Woodcock that brewers of beer
and makers of wine for use in the home
are practically immune from interior
ence by the Federal prohibition enforce
ment agents is not quite clear. Ger
tainly, however, an effort will be made
to attach significance to it. The adj
ministration, it would appear, is COM
mitted to suppressing traffic in alco-
holic beverages, as distinguished from
the mere drinking of beer and wine
that Is made for home consumption.
Furthermore, President Hoover'S Com
mission on Law Enforcement is still to
be heard from finally. What will be
the position should that commission re-
port on amendment of the eighteenth
amendment or some modification of the
prohibition laws? There was a hint in
the preliminary report of the commits
sion dealing with prohibition enforce
ment, submitted to the President
months ago, that in the end the COM
mission might make some rather drastic
recommendations.
+ X X
Is home brew to be considered kind
of sop to the wet Republicans of Massa-
chuSettS, Illinois, Ohio and Delaware,
where the Republican nominees for the
Senate are opposed by wet Democrats?
In Massachusetts last week the Re-
publicans held their state convention
and adopted a platform which, while
dry enough in the main, contained a
kind of compromise which was insisted
upon by some Of the wet Republican
leaders there.
The Republican plank makes i've
major points in the p2rty's stand on
liquor question: Reclamation Of the
1928 national plank for enforcement Of
all laws; Endorsement of President
Hoover'S views that all citizens have the
they cannot believe in; a statement that
the party has always opposed the saloon;
a suggestion that the report of the
Wickersham Commission will throw
light on a proper solution Of the prohibit
ton question, and an assertion that,
when the will of the people is expressed,
as will be the case in a wet-dry State
referendum in November, 1t should be
carried out, but until then the party is
ffnt rNlll mod 70 A. ~
1ects in its platform.
-
The action of the Massachusetts, Re-
publican convention, while 1t does not
go the length to which the Republican
convention went in Illinois, does rather
place the party in q position of agreeing
to be wet If the referendum on that
subject this November turns out to be
wet. Certainly the Republican leaders
are placing their ears to the ground all
over the country to ascertain Just what,
If anything, this drive of wet sentiment
against the eighteenth amendment
means.
AS in New York, the Republicans in
Massachusetts have at last put their
lighting clothes on. They are intent
In the Bay State on electing a Governor
and a United States Senator. The
Democrats still appear to have the bet
ter of the situation there. But there
are more Republicans in Massachusetts,
than there are Democrats, which means
that If the Republicans really get to-
gether, disregard the prohibition ques-
ton, they may make 1t hard for the
Democrats after all. Former Presi-
dent Calvin Coolidge sat on the plat
form at the Republican State conven-
ton in Boston, and received an ovation.
The party leaders would very much
like to have him take q hand In the
campaign. But 1t is doubtful If the for
mer President will do so, except per-
haps to issue a statement.
%* X
The Democrats of the Bay State held
their State convention last week also
The most significant happening at their
convention was the appearance of Mayor
Curley of Boston and his pledge to sup
port the Democratic nominee for Gov
ernor, Joseph B. Ely. Mayor Curley
was the center of terrible row in the
pre-primary campaign. He urged the
Democrats to nominate John F. Fits-
gerald, former mayor Of Boston, for
Governor, and charged that Ely was
hostile to the Irish race. Fitzgerald had
withdrawn from the contest because of
III health. Whether the Democratic
forces could get together after their
primary troubles has been question.
The Boston Democracy apparently has
decided to swallow the party ticket,
however, although 1t contains neither q
Boston candidate for Governor nor for
Senator. Certainly the Democracy of
Massachusetts outside Of the city of
Boston ought to be satisfied this year
with the selection of candidates.
\ + 4
The wet and dry issue. which mani
tested itself strongly in the Republican
primary in California this year con-
tinues to make itself heard in the
aIacfto1 in that state MavoP Pnlnh