Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
VETS MAY FORCE
DEMOCRATS HAND
DESPITE OPPOSITION
Objection of Drys to Raising
Prohibition Issue at Farley
Still Firm.
RASK0B DECLARED BACK
OF PLAN TO TAKE STAND
Smith Expected at Meeting Of Com
mittee-Finances of Party
on Program.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Despite efforts of Democrats in Con-
gress to head of serious discussion
of prohibition at the meeting of the
Democratic National Committee here
next Thursday some Of the Democratic
leaders were convinced last night that
the matter would be brought to the
attention of the committee. An effort,
they said, Is likely to be made to get
some expression of opinion as to what
the attitude of the party should be to-
ward the eighteenth amendment and
the Volstead act in the coming ma
tional campaign.
The rumor was that Chairman John
J. Raskob of the National Committee,
an ardent wet, was planning to insist
on a show down on this issue, If it
could be had.
The call for the committee, issued by
Mr.. Raskob, leaves the committee free
to discuss pretty much any subject it
sees At. IT proposes a discussion of
methods ard policies which are to gov
ern the party for the next is months.
Oppose Discussion Now.
Both wet and dry Democratic mem
bers of the Senate and House deplore
the suggestion that prohibition should
be considered by the National Com
nittee at its coming meeting. But If
reports are correct, Chairman RaSkoe
has set his heart on just that thing.
Southern Democratic members of Con-
greSs have not hesitated to attack the
proposal that the committee discuss
policies, and particularly the policy Of
the party with regard to prohibition.
A.
speeches in the Senate and in state
mentS to the press, has strongly urged
that no attempt be made to bring the
wet and dry issue up in the committee.
He went so far as to denounce Mr..
Raskob and to call him "the monu-
mental mistake of our great candidate,
Alfred z. Smith in the 1928 cam
paign.
Wet Senators among the Democrats
also have taken the view that it is bet
ter not to have the prohibition issue
out In the open at the National Com
mittee meeting. They do not see, they
say, what Is to be gained by 1t. One
Of them said last night:
THE function Of the national COM
mittee Is managerial It has nothing
to do with the framing of policies for
the party. That is a matter for the
national convention. do not believe
that the coming meeting of the ma
tional committee will help the situation
BY taking up such issues as prohibition,
the world Court, the tariff and water
power for consideration"
Smith May Be Here.
The expectation here is that former
Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York, the
Democratic candidate for President in
1928, will be in Washington for the
national committee meeting. 1t was
said also that it was likely former Gov.
James Cox Of Ohio, the party's candi-
date for President in 1920, would be
here, too. There was doubt, however,
that John w. Davis, the standard
bearer in 1924, could be here. owing TO
the fact that he had gone TO Florida
for his health.
The meeting Of the committee, which
takes place at 10 am. Thursday in
the Maydower Hotel, will be an open"
meeting, with members Of the press in
attendance. Many of the Democratic
members Of Congress are likely TO re-
main over tor the party confab. 1t
was explained, however, that it is TO
be a national committee meeting, and
that the discussion of matters pefore
the committee will be confined to men,
bers of the committee. Senator Joe"
Robinson. the Democratic leader OF the
Senate and also the party candidate Tor
Vice President in 1923, will attend the
meeting, II is said. He and Gov. Smith
may be invited 10 address the meeting.
II they are, and Gov. Cox and Mr..
Davis also are in the committee room.
IL is probable they will also be called
upon to speak.
II the prohibition question is raised,
as it is now rumored it will be, Senator
Robinson, who campaigned for re-
election to the Senate as a dry, is
expected TO throw his weight against
having the National Committee declare
for repeal or revision of the dry laws
or against having the committee en-
deavor to commit the party TO a stand
on the wet and dry issue. He may, 1t
Is said, attend the meeting with a
proxy from a member Of the commit
zee and lead the fight against any
attempt to tie the party up with the
vets.
There has been demand, however.
from some OF the Democratic leaders
that the party shall not pussy-foot on
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