The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-15
STRONG Bloc
Of u. s. PRESS
FOR DRY LAW
389 Newspapers Favor Act
as 1t Stands; 345
Want Repeal.
NATIONAL POLL TAKEN
NEA Check Shows LARGE
Circulation Majority Is
Against Prohibition.
NATIONAL POLL TAKEN
BY BRUCE CATION
NEA Service Writer

hibition became effective a nation
wide poll of approximately 1900
daily newspapers in the United
States, with calculations totalins
far into the millions, shows:
Three hundred and eight-nine
newspapers with a total circulation
of 3.S32,041 favor the prohibition
amendment as 1t stands.
Three hundred forty-hve news
papers with a total circulation Of
l2,520,9l1 III opposed to the prohi-
oition amendment as it stands.
Thirty eight newspapers with a
circulation Of 263,s6 favor modih-
cation of the Volstead act.
Eighty-seven newspapers with a
circulation Of 616,xO4 are neutral on
the subject Of prohibition.
Six hundred f%orty-nine news
papers or thereahouts apparently
did not choose to express an opin-
ion, as. they made no reply to ques-
donnaires.
Newspapers Reply
Replies YER received from a total
OF $50 newspapers having a COM
bined circulation of 1888, 22S. On
standard newspaper estimate that
there are four readers for each sub
Scrtber or newspaper buyer, these
replies are those Of newspapers that
are read by 69,332,9o o persons In the
United States.
That sums UP the result OF a
nationwide poll Of newspapers lust
conducted by NEA Service, Inc, the
worlds largest newspaper feature
service, which also serves The Times.
1t was a poll designed to do the
work Of the poll which the United
States prohibition bureau started
last fall and then suddenly can
celled.
The original letter sent out by She
bureau asked these four questions:
i. Are you in favor Of the eigh-
teenth amendment and the Vol
stead. act?
2. Are you opposed to these
enactments?
3. Are you neutral?
4. VIII you state briefly your
reasons for adopting the policy
you are advocating?
Indiana Plurality for Repeal
The QUESTIONABLE sent out by
NEA Service contained those am
four questions. Also, it was pointed
out that the editorial attitude Of
the newspapers was being sought.
and not the personal opinions of
the editors.
QueStionnaires were mailed to
1900 daily newspapers, listed in the
yearbook issued by Editor and Pub
Usher, a leading newspaper. trade
journal.
They were sent to all these, re-
CARELESS of geographical location,
political leanings or previously ex-
pressed positions on prohibition.
Indiana's' vote follows: For pro-
hibition, eighteen newspapers, 253,-
728 circulation; for repeal, twenty
five newspapers, 296,953 circulation:
for modification, two newspapers,
1887 circulation; neutral, seven
newspapers, 47,718 circulation.
The totals reveal that papers fol-
lowing an outright prohibition poll
icy outnumber the papers which adj
vocate repeal of the dry laws, and
make up approximately As per cczlt
Of the number reporting.
As Per Cent in Nation Dry
Papers which favor repeal con
stitute, roughly, 40 per cent of the
total.
Papers which uphold the eight
zenith amendment but want to see
the Volstead act modified so as to
provide for light wines and beers
number about as per cent.
Papers which have adopted a
neutral policy in regard to prohibi-
ton make up nearly 10.5 per cent.
Thus, to sum up: AS indicated by
this poll, As per cent of the coun-
try's dailieS are editorially dry, 40
per cent are for repeal As per cent
want modification and 10.5 per cent
are expressing no opinion.
The theory that prohibition SEN
ment is stronger in rural districts
and small cities than in the big
metropolitan centers apparently Is
borne out by the poll.
Smaller Papers Favor
The 3So newspapers which uphold
prohibition have a total daily cir
culation OF 3,S32,041.
The 345 newspapers which de-
mand complete repeal have a total
daily circulation OF 12,520,e11.
The papers which want modifca-
ton. reach 263, 1853 subscribers or
buyers daily, and the neutral
papers have q total circulation OF
616.1e4.
Next: How the big papers voted.
how the little newspapers voted and
\ survey by geographical sections.