The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-06
When Democrats Fight

rejoicing over the division In the opposition ranks.
The Republicans have this glee coming to them.
1t Is the FIRST chance they have had to grin since the
November landslide wiped out the Hoover ~najorities
In congress. But this rejoicing over the breakup Of
the Democratic party may be premature. Yes, we are
pretty certain it is premature. ;.
Party harmony is a fine thing. But it doesn't
exist in this country today. Both parties are split on
half a dozen issues. The only harmony possible is
stean-roler harmony. That is what the Republicans
are attempting-w1thout success.
The Democratic method Of free and open clash Of
opinions impresses us as wiser. Anyway, it is honest.
And honesty has its value even in national politics.
Prohibition. for instance. We admire Chairman
Raskobs courage in forcing that issue before the
Democratic meeting. The country is sick Of the pussy
footing Of politicians. The people want showdown.
They see through the tacit conspiracy by which many
politicians OF both parties have managed for a decade
70 suppress prohibition as a political issue.
Whether Raskobs particular new plan for home
rule through a modifying amendment allowing indi-
v1dual states to remain dry or become wet under any
system Of their own choosing, is accepted is perhaps
relatively unimportant. But that the American pee
pie be given the opportunity to declare their will on
this issue of state rights is fundamental.
1t is fundamental to our theory Of government.
1t also is fundamental to any adequate control Of
the liquor problena-a fact recognized by a 7-to-4
majority Of the Wickersham commission.
Not all the hairpulling by frightened politicians,
like Senator Robinson and other southern drys In
Washington Thursday, can obscure that fact. TREE
years ago, after similar antics, they nominated !, wet
for President. The country is wetter today than
then, and the tide still rises.
Unless all signs fail, the Democrats will nominate
another wet next year. Meanwhie, Raskob and the
party management would be foolish to deny the dry
faction a talking and fighting chance. And that
explains the fireworks Thursday.
The economic split in the party is more serious.
The Raskob groups seem determined to make the
party as safe and respectable in the eyes of big bust
ness as the Republican old guard. That is the path to
big campaign contributions.
1t is not, in our judgment, the road to a big vote.
The Republican party has been the machine Of the
vested interests too long, and served those interests too
well, to be discarded in favor Of the liberal party Of
Jefferson and Wilson.
Raskobs economic platform, as presented Thurs
day, except for his plea for a f1ve-day week, could
have been written by the power trust or the Repub-
Ican reactionaries.
His demand for tariff reform was too weak to cover
his earlier high protectionist nnaneuvers and the
Democratic votes which helped pass the Hoover pros
Notwithstanding tariff law.
On the two major economic issues Of u~nenaploy-
ment and electric power, the Raskob management Of
the Democratic party has nothing better to offer the
country than the present administration policies,
which have failed. G
These economoic issues, more than prohibition, ere
behind the feud over control of the Democratic party.
and choice Of a presidential candidate. The lines are
not clearly drawn, but they are there.
On the one side is Raskob, trying-according to
the news reports-to make the nomination safe for
owen D. Young Of General Electric and Radio Cor
poration, if Al Smith can not get it again.
Young typifes conservative business interests.
Young could be put over only as a dark horse, after
a long convention deadlock between open candidates.
If they won't take Young at the last minute, there is
Governor Ritchie Of Maryland, wet but safe" as
Young on the economic issue.
Governor Roosevelt, Of course, is out in front, too
far in front for comfort at this stage in the race.
Apparently he has lost Smiths support. Certainly
he is lighting the Raskob management.
Nominally he is the liberal candidate. But for a
wet he is doing a surprising amount Of pussyfooting
with the dry senators who want to evade the prohi-
bition issue. And for a liberal, Roosevelt is working
dangerously close to the Tanmany corruptionists and
the Robinson s~traddlers.
Where all Of this will come out in the end, we do
not presume to predict But If the Democratic party
is to get very far in the next election, our guess is
that it must do at least two things.
Gel. itself out of hook. Assuming as we do that
Raskob has no deliberate intention Of misusfng his
present financial control, obviously. the party can not
appeal to the people so long as it is under such f1nan-
cial obligation to any one man or small group Of men.
Prove by its record in the next congress and the
next campaign that it is something more than a
secondhand imitation Of the conservative Republican
party.
The Democratic party can do this. The Democratic
party will do this If its millions Of members are
heard. That pressure from the membership now is in
order.
The leaders in Washington wisely have brought
out the issues for discussion. They want to know
what the voters think. The party members can de-
termine the character and the future Of the Demo-
cratic party.