The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-25
VETS REJOICE
OVER LEG|ON'S
DRY LAW VOTE
Many Politicians Are Given
Courage to Flop by
Detroit Result.
PLAN CONGRESS FIGHT
Determined Efforts viii Be
Made to Elect Foes of
Prohibition.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times stan Correspondent

DETROIT, Sept. 25.-Prominent
politicians in both parties here to-
day predicted the action of the
American Legion in demanding a
referendum on prohibition repeal
or modification would have a great
effect on the next congress and can
didates for the presidency next year.
While Republicans holding office
do not care to discuss the situation
publicly, they privately are conced-
ing that many public officials
hitherto dry or cautiously silent
soon will be Topping over in the di-
rection of the wet camp.
Representative Robert Clancy Of
this city declared the first result
would be seen in the return of a
house numerically wet in 1882, and
defeat of large appropriations for
enforcement
Others assert that future efforts
to ban the use of poison alcohol, as
denaturant, would prove more
successful than lin the past.
Will Push Advantage
The vets made clear as they
left for home they intended to cap
italize the legion's action to the ut
most. The three to one vote Q,008
to 394, in their opinion, is full an
Swer to statements from dryS that
the outcome meant little or Moth
ing in the way of an anti-prohibi-
ton victory.
The behavior of such admins
tration representatives as Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt of Porto Rico,
and Hanford MacNider, minister to
Canada, was considered significant
Though they labored day and
night, spending long periods in tele-
phonic communication with the cap
ital, in their successful battle to
block the demand for full payment
of the bonus, they did not bother
their heads about beer.
There was no effort to prevent
wet demonstration by an organi-
zation whose influence on politicians
and congressman has been shown
time and again with respect to vet
terans' legislation. Most Democrats
attending the convention, except
some from the south, were on the
wet side openly.
Bonus Move Not Dead
Though the convention killed the
cash payment proposal by a two
to one vote, it has not removed
it definitely from politics. In fact,
Representative Wright Patman
(Dem., Tex who marshaled the
prepayment forces, said he
thought the 507 votes for the bonus
showed how strong it was.
That vote will have great infiu-
ence on congress" said Patman,
for it came from many states.
shall press a bill for immediate
payment as soon as congress
opens"
Others pointed out that the
legion'S executive committee may
revive the subject when it meets
next February, as it did when it
declared for the so per cent pay
ment after the legion convention
OF 1880 had declined to go on rec
ord for it.
The ability of the Patman group
to muster 507 votes in the face of
President Hoover's personal visit
here to warn against additional
financial burdens surprised every
body.
Answers Drunk" Charge
Attacks on the DICTIONARIES "as
staggering drunks" by professional
dry leaders, including DR.. Clarence
True Wilson of the Methodist Board
of Temperance, Prohibition and
Public Morals, provoked a sharp
reply from Representative Clancy.
THE dry leaders," said Clancy.
are taking the only course left to
them. They are saying the resolution
might have gone farther.
"The answer is that wet leaders
of the country are tickled to death
with the resolution. Attacking the
character and integrity of men who
served overseas will not help the
Anti-Saloon League and the Meth
odist board.
"The Legion has doomed the
domination the league has enjoyed
for ten years, therefore the bowls
of pain
Stevens Is Elected
The vote on prohibition, a vote
against asking for bonus. and
election of Henry L. Stevens. Jr., of
Warsaw, N. c., as national COM
mander we're high lights Of the
closing day of the Legion conven-
ton.
Many of the delegates already
had left before the votes on these
important questions were taken and
today the exodus of World war
veterans from the border city vas
completed.
Thus was ended hectic week.
which opened with President
Hoover personally addressing the
throng Of ex-soldiers and ended with
the soldiers themselves voting
openly and overwhelmingly against