Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
BY GEORGE VAN sLYKE.

NEW YORK, September 26.-The
new outbreak over prohibition this week
! growing out Of the demand Of the
American Legion for resubmission OF
the question to the states, with the re-
suItant agitation in Washington, has
| convinced even the tinaid politician that
| the liquor issue will be the overshadow-
ing factor in the next national cam
The renewal Of interest in the sub
| fect In the National Capital Is regarded
! by politicians on both sides as mdi-
eating how powerful forces are operat-
ing to shape the issues for the cam
paign. 1t may not be rs displeasing 70
the Hoover managers as Is popularIy
supposed to have this discussion brought
to the front at this time.
President Hoover. as the almost GER
tain nominee Of his party for another
term, Is striving to get rid OF the de-
preston as the paramount issue OF MS
campaign. Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt
of New York, as the leading candidate
of the Democratic party, Is credited
with being anxious to capitalize po-
litically on the economic issue and
play down prohibition so that he may
pull the wet East and the dry South
together.
The greater the disturbance over
prohibition, the more certain 1t be-
comes that Roosevelt and the Demo-
Gratis cannot hope to sidetrack or evade
the issue. If the Republicans can re-
vive the Schism over prohibition IN the
Democratic ranks 1t may turn out TO be
good politics. There are many Repub-
lean leaders, especially in the big East
ern States, who cling TO the hope that
Hoover may yet make at least gesture
l-.,~-~LIn a. xhn ,,aaAiAna fios1iafa fnara
by holding the wet Republicans In line
and weakening the Democrats In their
stronghold.
The announcement by Arthur M.
Hyde, Secretary of Agriculture. that he
Is making q survey to determine the
possible benefit to farmers OF the re-
turn of beer, coupled with other activl-
ties on the part of members OF the ad-
miniStration in relation to the discus
sion, is heartening TO the wet Republic
cans. Wet Democrats in the East,
however found little solace in the pro-
posal by Senator Buckley, Democrat, OF
Ohio that he will call on the Demo-
cratic National Convention TO pledge
the party TO reSubmiSSion OF the queS-
ton of repeal to the States. The wet
wing viii fight for straight repeal
plank and the Buckley formula might
bring about split in the wet ranks.
II y
The subject certainly will be much
alive in the coming session OF Congress.
The Democrats have recognized re-
Gently that they must tight 1t out again
In their National Convention because
of the militant demand Of the vets, led
by Alfred e. Smith of New York, for a
repeater plank. Yet the moderate vets
in the Democratic party have been
hopeful that they might avoid dis
astrous conflict in their convention and
play down the issue in the campaign.
That hope is fast fading. Certainly the
Republicans will do what they can TO
promote the old split in the Democracy;
that opens the logical and most effective
line Of attack for the Republicans.
Leaving entirely out OF consideration
all question of the right or wrong of
prohibition, the subject reduces itself
to practical politics as viewed from the
headquarters.
The Democratic party naturally has
to be wet and there Is no other course
open for It. No matter who may be
nominated, the Democracy cannot see
a chance Of winning in 1892 excepting
as the wet party. To win, 1t must
carry the debatable Eastern States, In
which the party Is predominantly wet
and where its hope Of victory lies in
attracting the wet Republicans. The
| loss of dry Democrats Is more than on
set in those States by the gain Of wet
In the pivotal States Of New York,
| New Jersey, Massachusetts,, Ohio and
| Illinois, to name only the largest, the
Republicans were beaten badly in clean
senatorial elections. The one chance
the Democrats have Of carrying those
| states is on the wet issue and they
must carry several Of the group to win
tbs presidency.
The South, traditionally Democratic
is dry. The ten Southern States with
| ia electoral votes are rated among the
dryest Of the sectional groups, yet
| suokesmen for the South insist they
are not IS intense about 1t as in 1924
| or 1928. Four Of those States broke
| from the Democratic party for the first
| time In 1928 and the politicians still
| debate whether the controlling cause
| was prohibition, as assigned at the time.
The belief is that the South will re-
| turn to the party next year, even II
moderately wet plank is inserted in the
| platform, providing the religious con-
| troversy Is not revived Southern SEN
atorS and State leaders are almost
| unanimously OF the opinion that Roose-
| welt, Baker, Young or Ritchie-in fact
almost eny Protestant-will carry the
South next year on wet platform. II
their observations are correct, obviously
the big chance for the Democrats is to
| go very wet in the hope Of carrying
| the Eastern wet States.
y y
Prohibition cuts across both parties
and yet the position Of the Democrats
ID more easily determined than that OF
N.-ANann.aaH.linN.. s.-A