Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
The Democratic Fracas.

The prohibition storm broke in the
meeting of the Democratic National
Committee here yesterday. The ques-
ton today is whether it has cleared the
air for the Democrats or is ominous OF
future and more extensive divisions
over the wet-and-dry issue. The occa-
sion measures up to other historic rows
In Democratic gatherings. But this
does not necessarily spell defeat for the
Democrats in the next national cam
paign. It had been expected that u
Chairman John j. Raskob, representing
the wet wing Of the party, proposed
recommendation to the next National
Convention for revision or repeal OF the
existing national prohibition laws the
dry Democratic leaders would maze
heated reply. They did Among them
we're Senator Robinson of Arkansas,
Democratic leader of the Senate and
running mate of Alfred E. Smith in the
national campaign of 1928; Senator
Morrison Of North Carolina and Sen
ator-elect Cordell Hull of Tennessee.
They handled Mr.. Raskob without
gloves, declaring that he had created
crisis in the. Democratic party by
bringing prohibition into the delibera-
tions CT the, National Committee and
adding that it was not the function OF
the National Committee to advance
policies for the National Convention to
accept.
Mr.. Raskob was not without his de-
tenders. Al Smith himself and James
v. Cox, the presidential nominee in
1920, not to mention Mrs Mary T.. Nor
ton, congresswon1an from New Jersey,
told the dry Democratic speakers thing
or two. In the end Mr.. Raskob con-
tinues to rule, as far as a national
chairman can rule, the destinies Of the
Democratic party. He is still chair
man. Furthermore, he prevailed upon
the committee to accept plan for
national campaign to finance the DEM
ocratic national organization. and In
the end the meeting closed in harmony.
No effort was made yesterday TO COM
NIT the Democratic National Commit
tee to the Raskcb plan for State control
Of the liquor traffic. Mr.. Raskob gave
notice that at the meeting Of the COM
mittee which is to be held next Deem
Der or the first Of the new year he
would ask the committee 10 pass on his
proposal Then will come the tug OF
war. Democrats who wish the party
to take a firm stand one way or
the ether on prohibition VII be in Ell
dence. Others will seek to slur the
issue, declaring that prohibition is rot
properly Political question, and that the
Democrats should unite on issues over
which there can be no great differences
in the party. Judging from Mr.. Ras-
kcb's address, however. there may be
serious Democratic schisms over other
issues, including the tariff and the at
titu6e Of the party toward the Sherman
antitrust laws.
Mr.. Raskcb acquitted himself well
at the committee meeting yesterday.
His insi5ience that opponents OF his
liquor plan be given full opportunity to
be heard vas not without its effect. It
viii net be surprising If some of the
most outspoken opponents Of FIr. Ras-
k2b and his Plan fecl rather shcepish
at ;nair vehsmence, now that the show
is Ger temporarily If there existed
any real design in the minds of oppo-
nenls Of the chairman to dislo5ge him
from his Office because Of his in3.stence
on bringing up the prohibition issue at
yesterdays meeting, it got nowhere
The chairman seems to be more firmly
in the saddle than ever The truth Of
the matter appears to be that the dry
element IN the party, opposed to Ras-
kco, was beaten before the fight began
The next standard bearer of the Demo-
cratic party in al probability will be
favorable TO some such plan as that
advanced by RasSob yesterday for liquor
trafhc conIrcl 1t may be a Roosevelt,
a chic, a Smith or Buckley. or an
other. But it is not likely to be man
Who is committed TO the retention Of
the dry laws as they are.