Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-18
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.

The Democrats of the South may
have to swallow next year presidential
candidate who is opposed to national
prohibition, but 1t is going to be diff
cult gulp. From Birmingham, Ala,
comes the report that the Southern
Baptist Convention, meeting there, has
adopted resolution placing the con-
yention in opposition to any candidate
for public Office, from President down,
who is opposed to the prohibition law.
Furthermore the convention declared 1t
did not care to what political party
wet presidential candidate may belong
it was against him. How much in
fuence the Southern Baptists will have
at the polls next year in the event Of
the nomination of wet candidate for
President by the Democrats is a mat
ter OF conjecture. Many Southern
Democrats will insist that the South
will 60 Democratic no matter how wet
the candidate may be.
On the other hand, from Richmond,
Va, comes the word that the Riverside
Democratic Social Club a club Of wide
membership, it is said, has gone on
record in favor of the Raskob "home
rule plan" for the control of liquor,
which, while it does not call for repeal
of the eighteenth amendment, permits
violate the prohibition against the
manufacture and sale of liquor for
beverage purposes. Richmond was the
hotbed in 1923 of the dry. anti-Smith
Democratic revolt in the South. 1t was
the headquarters Of the anti-Smith
Democratic campaign headed by Bishop
James Cannon, jr., of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
The dry protest against change in
the liquor laws. while it is not likely
to prevent the nomination of a Demo-
cratic candidate for President who is
opposed to prohibition as it now stands,
may have the result of holding the
Democratic national convention from
going on record as favoring a revision
or repeal of the national prohibition
laws and the eighteenth amendment.
That is about all the drys really hope
for cut Of the Democratic party next
year anyway. If they can prevent the
direct espouSal of the anti-prohibition
cause by the national Democrats party,
meeting in convention, they will con-
slider they have won a victory. And, in
measure, they will have won a vic
tory under those circumstances.
X y
Gov. Franklin d. Roosevelt Of New
York has received another boost for the
Democratic presidential nomination
from Republican source. Senator Nye
of North Dakota, head of the Senate
Campaign Investigating Committee, said
IN New York City that Gov. Roosevelt
would be very strong candidate in
deed in North Dakota, South Dakota
and other States of the Northwest if
he We're nominated next year. Senator
Nye believes, as does Senator George
W. Norris OF Nebraska. that the public
utility issue, including particularly
water power, is to be major issue in
the next national campaign, and he
regards Gov. Roosevelt as an advocate
OF Government operation and regula-
ton such as would appeal to the voters
in his State
Senator Nye himself is a Republican,
despite his talk about the availability
of Roosevelt as a possibility for the
Democratic presidential nomination
Furthermore, Senator Nye has to stand
for reelection himself next year and
he may have a battle on his hands.
The conservative Republicans in the
State are likely to wage a real battle
in an effort to take from him the Re-
publican senatorial nomination. They
have already laid the groundwork for
their attack upon the chairman of the
Campaign Investigating Committee.
However, Senator Nye has shown him
self rescurceful in his political career
so far and he will be tough candidate
TO beat, especially as the Progressives
generally may be expected to rally to
his support with the cry that a defeat
for Nye VIII be defeat for the Pro-
gresslve cause and victory for re-
action.
X \ X
But the fact that Senator Nye is
to run again next year Is likely to keen
him in line for the Republican nominee
Tor President no matter whom the
Democrats may put up, or the Repub-
llcans either. He would find himself
in difficult position if he undertook
to campaign for the Democratic norni-
nee for President and at the same time
to run for the Senate as Republican.
Senator Brookhart of Iowa tried to
get himself reelected as a Republican
Wnlle he was supporting the late SEN
ator La Toilette for President in 1924
ana ran into a Snarl which elected the
flrst Democratic Senator, Steck, from
Iowa in many years. Even Senator
Norris OF Nebraska has not supported
openly presidential candidate of an
other party while he himself was cam
palglnng Tor reelection to the Senate.
IN 1924 he was a candidate for re-
election and yet he failed to come for
ward Tor La Toilette and campaign for
him openly as he did for Al Smith in
1923 when he himself was not a candi-
date. 1t is still difficult for a man
to run both ways at once, even in Ne
Draska, North Dakota and Iowa. And
by the same token, Senator Brookhar5
Is TO come up Tor reelection next wear.
too, which would seem to keep him in
line Tor the Republican nominee for
President. Anyway, he does not ike
Gov. Roosevelt.
y x *
Senator Norris, it appears, is highly
iaSulted because the t-ulitzer prize 1ny.
the best edltorlal OF the year went to
Char.es S. Ryckman of the Fremont
(NebrD Tribune. Mr. Ryckman went
at length In his prize winning editorial
to explain that the peop.e OF Nebraska
VINO gave their electoral votes to Har-
ding, Coolidge and Hoover, Continued
TO ei3ct Senator Norris to the Senate
Tor the sole reason that it gave taem
an opportunity to hit at the East, which
ioCK@d Gown on Nebraska. In the
opinion OF Senator Norris the award
and the editorial constitute IAN insult.
to the patriotism and intelligence of
every Nebraska citizen" Is ii nossibIa
that the Senator from Nebraska, who
writes and reads humorous poems to
the Senate, is himself lacking in a
sense of hUmor?
The Republican party in Massachu-
sets is engaging in another factional
row. The G. 0. P. has been pretty well
shot to pieces in the Bay State for sew
eral yearS-in fact, since Calvin Cool
loge stepped out of the foreground as