The Washington times., 1931-03-09
DRY ISSUE BOBS
UP To HARAcs!
REPUBLICANS
Demands of Rep. LaGuardia
for a Showdown SiIenCes
COP. Laugh at Democrats
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES

BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
While it is generally taken for
granted by politicians of both
parties that President Hoover
will be renominated next year,
and that he will run for re-elec-
tion as an outright dry, indica-
tions are multiplying that the Re-
publicans are going to have to
share some Of the grief over the
prohibition issue.
There Is q small but militant
minded Republican group who
are not going to see the party
line up sOlidIy with the drys
in 1882 without a struggle.
Probably they will make little
headway, but nevertheless they
are determined to make fight,
and any fight is not without its
embarrassing features.
LaGuardia Asks Action
For example, Representative
LaGuardia (R) of New York,
came out today with a demand
that the Republicans hold q
meeting of their national COM
mittee to deal "courageously''
with the issue as the Democrats
did here last week.
His proposal was greeted with
lot Of ha-ha's by regular Repub-
lican leaders, and it will, Of
course, get nowhere. But his &C
tion nevertheless was indicative
of a feeling that strongly per-
vades some sections of the party.
The Republicans of New York
went bodily over into the wet
camp in the 1880 election, adopt
ing for the first time wet plat
form and nominating an avowed
opponent Of prohibition for gov.
ernOr.
Sure to Voice Protest
Not all of the Republicans in
these States are going to see Presi-
dent Hoover take the party into
the prohibition camp without q
protest. Said Mr.. La Guardia:
"One thing must be said for
the DemOcrats-they at least
had the courage to discuss pro-
hibitiOn in the open.
Republican leaders, rather
than chpckle over the apparent
division in the Democratic
ranks, had better take inventory
in their own party. The least
they can do is to call the Repub-
lican national committee to-
gether and take up the prohibit
ton question.
ut is extremely unSatiSfac-
tory for either party to be wet
in one section of the country
and dry in the other. There is
a determined movement within
the ranks of the Republican
party to vote wet in 1882 if the
party refuses to meet the situa.
ton. Republicans in New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Ohio, Illinois, will not
sacrifice a principle for party ex.
pediency much longer. The Re-
publican party cannot win with
out these States.
Dwarfs Other Issues
Prohibition is crOwding all
other issues out of cOnsidera- :,
tiOn~ The Republican party
should not Over-emphasiZe the
wet split in the Democratic
party, nor underestimate the
strength Of the Democratic
party with wet platform. The
solid dry Democratic South
will vote the Democratic ticket
in 1892 even if the platform is
wringing wet. This will give
their presidential candidate IA
electoral votes at the start.
"a dry Republican running
on a dry platform with the
present temper of the country
would be in danger of losing
Illinois, 20 votes; Massachusetts,,
18; New Jersey, IA; New York,
As; Rhode Island, 5; Wisconsin,
Is, and Ohio, 24-Or 292 cleo
tOraI votes irrespective Of the
doubtful States. Only zoo cleo
tOral votes are required to elect
a President.
"In all fairness, millions Of
Republicans are entitled to
know just what side their party
will take on prohibition in 1882.
It is highly desirable that the
question be freely and openly
discussed within party circles be-
fore convention time.
"The Republican leadership
has it within its power to sacri.
flee victory for prohibition,
the Southern Democrats will be
ready to sacrifice prohibition