Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
DEMOCRAT|CACT|O
ON RASKOB PLANS
NOW TO HANG FIRE
Policy on Prohibition Issue
May Be Settled Only by
National Convention.
POSSIBLE CANDIDATES
ANXIOUS FOR SILENCE
Sheppard Urges Party to Defeat
Proposed State Liquor Control.
Debt Removal Planned.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Chairman John j. Raskob of the
Democratic National Committee led his
committee up to the prohibit on ques-
ton at its meeting in the Mayhower
Hotel yesterday ana then postponed &C
ton for nine or ten months.
Out of the turbulent discussion which
followed, Chairman Raskob's recon-
mendation that the Constitution be
amended again so as to permit indi-
vidual States to determine whether they
leave it to the National Government
under the existing eighteenth amend
ment, the following situation emerges:
Dry Issue still Ponds.
The prohibition issue is still 20 be
settled by the Democratic party, as an
intra-party matter.
Chairman Raskob, leader of the So
called wet wing of the party, is still
in the saddle and not likely to be dis
lodged, in spite of the dry clamor.
The Democratic party itself must de-
ternine in national convention, Wheth-
er It shall assume wet attitude TO-
ward national prohibition as 1t now
exists. a dry attitude, or shall be
neutral.
THE first response today to Chair
man Raskob's prohibition plan was an
appeal. issued by Senator Morris Shep-
pard of Texas, a co-author OF the
eighteenth amendment, calling on all
Democrats to defeat the Recommended
ton of Raskob that State liquor-con-
troll plank be placed in the next Demo-
cratic rational platform.
Senator Caraway of Arkansas, an
other opponent of the plan of Mr.. Ras-
kob. took issue with his recommenda-
lions regarding economic Issues as well
as prohibition Senator Caraway de-
clared that -Raskob had lined up with
extreme poreion of the Republican party
on economic issues.
Candidates Want Silence.
At present some Of the candidates for
the Democratic presidential nomination
next year are extremely anxious to avoid
an open declaration by the National
Committee on the subject Of prohibition.
Some of these candidates are wet IN
sympathy but are angling for the dry
votes of the South and such Western
States as kansas in the coming national
convention. Others are dry and DO not
followers OF to split with the delegates
from the populous States where prohi-
bition is unpopular.
These candidates. may have decided
influence in the next meeting OF the
National Committee, If Mr.. Raskob
goes through with his demand that
there be a concrete proposal on prohlol-
ton made to the national convention.
Gov. Roosevelt of New York and his
Fnr ff1a YNrocidpF7fiol
ton, for example, threw the weight OF
their influence against action by the
National Committee at the meeting yes
terday. Roosevelt is popular with many
Southern Democrats. He wishes TO
make economic questions, among them
water power, major issues in the COM
ing campaign, and while he must be
wet to carry New York and Massachu-
sets, he is soft-peddling that issue until
after the convention.
Robinson Heads Drys.
Senator Joseph T. Robinson. the
Democratic leader of the Senate and
running mate of Alfred e. Smith in the
national campaign of 1928, took the
lead for the drys in the attack on the
Raskcb plan yesterday. He has been,
and he continues to be, the most prom
inent of the so-called dry candidates
for the nomination.
There had been threats to eliminate
Chairman Raskob If he had the temerity
TO go ahead with his attempt to put the
party on record against national pro-
hibition. He went ahead. No sugges-
ton was heard in the committee meet
ing that he be ousted. no matter what
may have been said soto voce.
1t is true however, that the drys were
able TO put off the showdown on the
question of prohibition and other recon-
mendationS at this particular time. IN
less enough influence can be brought to
bear on Raskob in the interim, however.
there will be showdown at the next
committee meeting.
Two lines Of attack were launched by
the dry speakers against Mr.. Raskob
yesterday One denounced him for
seeking TO make the party wet. The
other attacked the chairman for sug-
costing the Democratic National Com
mittee had the right to recommend
party policies to the national conven-
ton.
Varied Statements Issued.
Mr. Raskob blew the second line of
at * out of the water when he read
TO TIE committee in a quiet and rather
ch.Cing voice the language adopted by
the last national convention itself CIV
ing the committee authority To make
recommendations regarding party poll
cies
All kinds of statements from all kinds
of Democrats were issued last night and
today regarding the discussion OF prohl-
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