Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-23
|DRYS SEE COERCION
IN RASKOB INQUIRY
Move to Force Wet Platform
Laid to Democratic
Chairman. <f
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The renewed attempt by John j.
Raskob to obtain the views Of leading
Democrats on whether. their party
should declare for resubmisSion of the
prohibition issue to the people drew an
attack today from the drys' National
Board Of Strategy.
A statement from the board, Of which
Edwin c. Dinwiddie is executive Secre-
tary, said wet millionnaires" were
bringing pressure to bear TO have both
parties make their platforms wet "by
threatening to withhold donations in
the 1882 fight"
Their aim Is to shift the burden Of
taxation from themselves to the people
by restoring liquors to legal sale" 1t
said. This RaSkob poll of party con-
tributors plays upon money givers and
exalts them as the real party force"
$3.50 Views Sought.
The letter by Raskob to $3.50 con-
tributors to the Democratic campaign
fund called for yes or no answers to
their desires as to the Prohibition stand
the Democratic platform should embody
in 1882.
The statement of the Prohibition
Board called the poll letter "a lawyers
brief against prohibition" and said:
THE SmithRaskoa combine may
dictate the next nominee Of the Demo-
cratic party, but this combine will never
name the next President of the United
States. No Smith proxy candidate will
be acceptable to the dry or independent
voters of the Nation, who, despite
lavlshly financed wet propaganda, still
constitute an overwhelming majority"
IT believe the time has Ome," Raskob
wrote. 'for the Democratic party to face
this issue squarely, and to present to
the people a definite plan under the
policy Of States rights and local self
government"
Home Rule Plan Repeated.
The move was follow-up to his pres
entation of the home-rule plan for
liquor control last March to the Ma
tional Committee. He evoked then q
bitter outburst, particularly from South
ern leaders, many of whom felt DELHI
crate injection of the prohibition issue
was a fine way to wreck the party's 1882
prospects.
Seven "yes or no" answers are re-
quested to the following specific ques-
lions:
l. Do you recommend the Demo-
and be Q short, concise declaration of
the party's determination to restore our
liberties and the spirit Of the Consti-
tuition, through recognizing States
rights; home rule; the need OF decen-
tralization at Washington; the cutting
of riotous national expenditures, with
consequent relief from excessive taxa
ton?
2. Do you recommend the Democratic
platform should commit all Democratic
members Of the United States Senate
and House OF Representatives to vote
in favor Of a resolution that will sub
NIT the prohibition question eight
zenith amendment) to the people Of
the United States for their individual
consideration and decision?
Ratification View Asked.
8. Do you recommend the Democratic
platform declare in favor of requiring
all future amendments to the Consti-
tuition be ratified by the people them
selves through conventions of the peo-
pie in each State and not permit rati-
fication through State Legislatures in
future? This action will insure a ma
tional referendum Of the people them
selves on all future amendments before
they can becoma part of the Constitu-
ton.
4. Do you recommend the Democratic
platform commit the Democratic men,
bers of the United States Senate and
House of Representatives to vote in
favor OF a proposal which will give the
people themselves through conventions
Of the people in each State opportunity
to vote on a new constitutional amend
ment which in effect modifles the eight
zenith amendment through the adoption
of the home rule plan for liquor con-
trol?"
S. Do yoh recommend the Democratic
platform commit the Democratic men,
bers of the Senate and House of Rep
reSentatives to vote in favor Of pro-
posal which will give the people them
selves, through conventions of the peo-
pie in each State, opportunity to vote
on the question of straight repeal Of
the eighteenth amendment?
Modification Ideas Sought.
6. Do you prefer the Democratic
platform commit the Democratic men,
bers of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives to vote in favor Of a reso-
luton proposing modification OF the
eighteenth amendment as outlined in
question as against voting in favor
Of resolution proposing straight re-
peal OF the eighteenth amendment as
outlined in question 5?
Z. Do you believe other economic. Is
sues will be so overwhelming in the
1882 campaign the Democratic plat
form can successfully ignore the pro-
hibition question with its economic
problems by remaining silent or by
adopting q mere law-enforcement plan
as was done in the 1928 convention?
Raskob said his presentation of the
issue to the National Committee in
March was to stir up widespread dis
cussion in the party. The announce
ment Of the QUESTIONABLE by party
headquarters here described this latest
move one Ito ascertain just how the
rank and file of the Democratic party
feels" about a platform declaration.
He cited the Wickersham Commission
report extensively in urging action. He
asserted the country was filled with in
dependent voters ready to flock to the
Democratic banner If the party declared
itself, and he counted also on the sup
port Of millions Of first voters who will
not tolerate evasion"