Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-28
The Political Mill
By C. Could Lincoln.


A~-.---..a----.-s--s-u---.
Having lost their grip on the Demo-
cratic party TO q very great extent, the
drys are concentrating on the @. o. p.
They have seen the Republican or
Of the liquor question In New York,
where last Fail gubernatorial candi-
date committed TO revision Of the dry
laws was nominated, and In Illinois,
where last year the State convention
took . wet stand In that II agreed
that n the referendum on the LIQUOR
question went against prohibition, then
the q. o. p. candidates would follow
the line of the referendum In New
Jersey. where Senator Dwight W. Nor
row was elected last year after having
that prohibition Is q metter for the
State governments to deal with, not the
Federal Government. the c. o. p. has
iust again adopted wet plank in It's
party platform. The vets among the
Republicans IN Massachusetts, and
Connecticut, not to mention Rhode
Island, are UP in arms and seem to
be making considerable headway. Nov
comes word from Connecticut that the
council Of IL organizations supporting
the eighteenth amendment win be ready
to put forward dry independent Repub-
hcan candidates II the party under
takes to nominate vets. Furthermore,
the drys viii be urged not TO take part
In the referendum which is to be held
IN Connecticut next year on the proii-
bition question.
The drys have adopted such tactics
in other States. Repeatedly In Illinois
they were urged by the Anti-Saloon
League to stay out of referendums ON
prohibition. The results of the refer
endums in that State have invariably
been wet. And II sentiment in Con-
necticut has been rightly judged, the
verdict In the Nutmeg State next year
Will also be wet. Just as 1t was in Mas
Sachusetts last year and the election
before that. The General Assembly of
Connecticut put through the act cali
ing for the referendum over the heated
protests Of the drys
~
The adoption Of a wet plank In the
Jersey Republican platform. In prepa-
ration for the gubernatorial election.
which takes place next November. viii
doubtless have its effect, as it was in
tended to, on results In the election In
that State. The adoption OF these wet
planks by the Republicans In q number
OF the most populous States Of the
country can scarcely fail, too. to have
some significance for the meeting Of the
Republicans in national convention
next year. There is not the slightest
doubt that more strenuous efforts will
De made TO have the G. o. p. declare
for some kind Of modification of the
eighteenth amendment and the VOL
stead act than have occurred in earlier
republican conventions However, If
the national leaders are to be believed,
the q. o. p. Is going to the bat on
the dry side Of this eighteenth amend.
ment issue In 1882 Just as It did IA
1928. If economic conditions in the
country were better than they are. this
vet ana dry matter might not affect
the Republican chances to so great an
extent as It Is likely to do next year.
The Republicans could stand the defec.
ton OF o number Of their party vets.
But II the signs are rightly read today
the Republicans are going to need eli
the votes they can get next year. II
the wet Republicans flop over to the
Democrats IN some CT the States. mar
ttcularly in the North and East where
Republican victory must be won. If won
at all. the Republican national. ticket
viii suffer thereby
n
The drys win have u give consider
alton 70 the situation which NAV arise
In the national Republican party II n
goes into the campaign as the sum
porter OF the eighteenth amendment
next year and lcses tt the Democrats
with wet candidate for President.
such an occurrence would have the
enect unquestionably Of lo7sening the
grip OF the drys on the Republican
N q lac Al
has been loosened here and there
already. on the State organizations
quite naturally the drys are not over
looking this matter. Threats of placing
Independent candidates In the fieI6
against the Republicans seen, rather
silly under the circumstances. It would
appear the best bet fer the drys to
lire up solidly back of the Republican,
national banner next year If the Demo.
crats nominate wet, as there seems
every likelihood they will If thay can
help put across the Republican dry
candidate for President under the con.
oitions which exist in the country TODAY
tney Will be in a position to claim
real victory ard the vets will have had
q real setback.
The Republicans have nominated for
governor David Baird, jr., of Camden.
VINO served as Senator from New Jersey
last year after Ambassador Walter
Edge had resigned from the Senate
70 accept diplomatic post in France,
and before Senator Morrow, who was
then Ambassador to Mexico, was ready
to return to this country and take up
the duties of Senator. Baird has long
been known as the Republican boss. !"
particularly in his section Of the State
ana more recently throughout the State.
The Democrats in Jersey have already
attacked him as boss" He retaliates
with the challenge that the Democrats
name their own boss, Mayor Frank
Hague OF Jersey City. as their candidate
for Governor. That, Baird insists, the
Democrats have no stomach to do in
view of the record Of Mayor Hague
and the many charges which have been
made against him in the past. Baird
insists that Hague has put forward
for the ONCE of Governor a man whom
he, Hague, can control, former Gov.
A. Harry Moore.
The Democratic plank on the prohibi-
ton question Is even wetter than ia
that of the Republicans In New Jersey.
1t calls not only for the repeal of the
eighteenth amendment but also for the
repeal OF the State enforcement act
and for an immediate modification Of
the Volstead act pending repeal of the
amendment itself. The Democrats Of
New Jersey. In their State Campaign
this year, are planning to make the
most Of the depressed conditions and
unemployment, attacking the Republic
can national administration along with
the State administration. 1t is only
forerunner Of what may be expected
in the national campaign next year,
unless business conditions improve to
very great degree within the next
eight to twelve months.