Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23
WET REPUBLICANS
WANT ISSUE AGED
Spokesman for Five States
Say CIearcut Stand Must
Be Taken.

An undercurrent Of opinion in Re-
publican national circles that the ad-
ministration is disposed to play down
the prohibition issue in the national
convention next year has served to
bring pressure from party leaders in
New York. Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, Illinois and Colorado for a
frank recognition of the question.
In the last few weeks outstanding
Republicans from these States have
communicated 10 administration ON
cials, in some cases to the President
himself that 1t would be hazardous
to try to win their electoral votes on
q dry platform, whatever the nagni-
tude of the economic issue.
The fact that the administration has
not only frightened up prohibition en-
forcement but has called for a further
trial of the eighteenth amendment III
the face of the discouraging Wicker
sham Commission report, is assumed to
have linked the Republicans more
definitely with prohibition in the public
mind than the Democrats.
Economic Situation First.
Certain OF these party leaders have
been moved to the pressure for a pro-
hibition stand by reports that Mr..
Hoover believed the economic situation
now had so far overshadowed prohibit
ton as to effectively denature the wet
agitation.
That the President holds this view
and Is becoming more confirmed in 1t
Is reported among Republican leaders
throughout the country.
It Is Just now becoming known that
. group of active Young Republicans
from Massachusetts,, backed by the Re-
publican State chairman. Amos Taylor
served notice OF their stand when here
for the gathering of Young Republicans
two months ago. under the auspices of
the Republican National Committee,
1t was ut dinner Of these Young
Republicans and Robert H. Lucas, ex-
ecutive director of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. Out of a clear sky,
one after another Of the Young Repub-
icans. addressing Mr.. Lucas, served no.
tice that Massachusetts, could not be
carried by the Republicans in 1892 ON a
dry platform.
Incident Given Significance.
Coupled with the fact that Louis x.
Liggett. national committeeman from
Massachusetts,, has long been pointing
to the ACCESSIBILITY Of wet stand by
the party and that former Senator
William NJ Butler barely won the Re-
publican senatorial nomination in that
State on dry platform last Fall. wet
or liberal" Republicans considered the
incident Of the Young Republicans sig
nffcant.
In all the other cases, touching New
York, Rhode Island. Illinois or Colo
xado, the pressure for something other
than . dry stand has come directly and
somewhat pointedly from senior mem
bers Of the party, State chairmen, ma
tiCnal committeeman or prominent
members Of Congress. There has been
enough Of 1t in the last several weeks to
suggest something more than individual
initiative.
There has been nothing to indicate
that the President has changed his
views. The impression prevails that he
Il not thinking much about prohibition
at the moment and thinks It viii take
care Of itself
Senator James Z. Watson, Republic
can floor leader Of the Senate, expressed
the opinion yesterday that neither major
party would have straight-out platform
declaration on prohibition. He had
dinner last night with the President
Politically he is dry and q candidate for
denomination and reelection to the
Senate unless the vice presidential NOM
ination should be available.