The Washington times., 1930-09-15
NX.GOVERNOR
! LIKELY TO
GET CALL
Wet Cause Handicapped by
Lack of Leadership; Roose-
welt or BulkIey Candidate

80
The nationwide agitation over
prohibition in this. years elec-
tiors, regardless of the outcome
Of individual wet and dry con-
tests, may prove a tremendous
boon to the wet cause by de-
veloping new leadership and a
definite national program, it ap-
peared today.
Thus far, the wet cause has
been sorely handicapped by di-
vided leadership, a hit and miss
campaign and lack of definite
goal. Many national observers,
wet and dry alike, believe the
present campaign may project
national wet leader into the lime
light and force the vets to con
centrate their strength in a
single national organization, fight
ing for a definite goal.
HI. War at Polls
A host of wet nominees will go
to the polls in November. de-
manding the repeal or modifica-
ton of prohibition and opposing
bone-dry opponents supported by
the Anti-Saloon League. A sur
priSing or overwhelming victory
for the wet nominee in such
contest may well project him into
the role of national leader Of the
vets.
In New York. Governor Frank
lin D. Roosevelt will go to the
polls on the open issue of repeal
ing the Eighteenth Amendment.
His reelection might easily make
him the national leader. Sim
llarly. Robert H. Bulkley, Demo-
cratic senatorial nominee in Ohio,
might win this honor if he can
iinpressively defeat Senator Ros-
coe McCulloch in November. de-
spite the latter'S dry support in
the home State of the Anti-Saloon
League.
Morrow Could Lead
The wet, and, dry contests in
Montana, Colorado and Delaware
may also produce wet leaders.
In Montana. Judge Albert j.
GaIen, wet Republican nominee.
hopes to defeat Senator j. Walsh
CD, an outspoken champion of
prohibition. In Colorado, George
II. Shaw won the Republican
nomination over dry opposition
and may win again against. the
dry Democratic nominee. Edward
P. .Costigan. In Delaware, former
Senator Thomas F. Bayard CD,
an avowed wet, will battle the dry
Senator Daniel o. Hastings (RO.
The individual. who could well
unite the vets under his personal
leadership~if he so desired, would
be Dwight Morrow, friend of pres
adents, successful diplomat and
noted financier, who is the Re
publican senatorial nominee in
New Jersey. Morrow, an avowed
wet, would give the wet cause
poise and dignity if he assumed
the leadership but politicians here
feel he will devote himself, If he
is elected, to economic and ad-
miniStrative matters, rather than
to the wet cause. ....
Aims Are Varied
In the House of Representa-
tives the wet cause probably will
rally behind John Philip Hill
(R.) of Maryland if he is success
full in November. Hill was leader
of the House wet. bloc for many
years until he quit that body to
seek q seat in the Senate. This
year ne is trying to return to the
House. Under his leadership the
House vets voted frequently as
a bloc, but during the last Con-
greSs there were a dozen leaders
who produced a rather diSorgan-
ized attack on prohibition.
with a definite leadership es-
tabliShed, the vets next will have
toTagree upon definite goal. To
date their SpokeSmen have de-
mafiied repeal of the Eighteenth
Amendment, modification of the
Eighteenth. Amendment, tighten
Ing OF enforcement or a sort OF
ntiIffication, State control instead
of Federal operation, and a host of
other changes. Here in the Cap
itaI, it is generally agreed, the
vets will get nowhere unless they
concentrate on single, goal.
Convention Easier
Their ultimate aim may be the
calling OF 8 constitutional con-
velition, even though most of
their, leaders now declare this is
3urthest from their thoughts. Ex-
perienced political leaders have
pointed out that this plan would
call for the minimum of wet
strength. First, it could be ac-
uufred by inducing the legisla-
lures of two-thirds of the States
to jAsk Congress for such a con-
vention. Then. it would require
but majority votes in the House
and Senate. to issue such a CALL.
Finally, it would require only a
majority vote of the convention
itself to change the Constitution.