Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
tcontinued PROM First page.l


bition and the row in the committee
yesterday Some held that the raising
of the question was a great mistake,
precipitating "crisis" in party affairs:
others that it was well to clear the
atmosphere"
ut might have been worse, decidedly
worse" was the way some of the Demo-
cratic leaders commented upon the row
in the meeting over prohibition yester-
day. They predicted that the National
Committee would at its next session lay
aside the prohibition issue, II Mr.. Ras-
kob insisted upon bringing it up again,
along with all other issues, and leave
them to the national convention. A
motion to lay aside or table a resolution
on prohibition, they insisted, would
carry.
Financing Plan Adopted.
These same leaders declared that a
great deal of trouble had been pre-
vented yesterday by the decision to
postpone any action on policies. Had a
resolution been offered proposing to
place the committee on record in favor
of the Raskob liquor control plan, there
would have been real trouble" they
said.
Senator David l. Walsh of Massachu-
sets, a wet, declared himself in accord
with the plan for liquor control adj
vanced by Mr.. Raskob. He said, how
ever, that it was not customary for the
national committee to discuss issues.
Senator Carter Glass of Virginia, a
dry, insisted that prohibition was not
a party matter and that any party that
attempted to make 1t party issue
would make fatal mistake.
Despite the fact that the meeting at
~IA@
dent passion on the part of the speak
ers, it ended quietly enough with the
adoption of a plan for financing the
national Democratic organization up to
and through the next national cam
paign. This plan, advanced by Chair
man Raskob and prepared by a New
York concern, contemplateS raising a
total of S6,000,000 and paying of the
deficit coming over from the last cam
paign and meeting the expenses Of the
next. Chairman Raskob has been
criticized as owning the Democratic
party" because of his large advances of
the work Of the organization since the
close of the 1928 campaign.
Tense Moments at Session.
There were tense moments during the
session CT the committee yesterday,
when it looked as though the meeting
might even get out of hand. But
Chairman Raskob handled the situation
calmly and his appeal to let all those
who wished to speak be heard was eff
fectiye.
Vets and drys went at each other in
hammer and-tongs fashion.
At times the uproar in the meeting
room drowned out the speakers words.
Kisses and catcalls we're heard.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader of the Senate and
running mate of Al Smith in the last
national campaign, declared that Chair
man Raskob had ''precipitated crisis"
in the affairs of the Democratic party.
He attacked the chairman for bring
ing prohibition into the committee
meeting and for suggesting that the Ma
tional Committee recommend policies to
the next Democratic National Conven-
ton. Senator Morrison of North Caro-
lima reared his opposition to the Raskob
plan and when he was interrupted by
Kisses Senator Morrison declared that
ring methods" were being used to pre-
vent his completing his speech, and
called on the sergeant-at-arms and
other officers of the committee to see
that he was permitted to proceed.
Disturbance Called "Riot.''
Patrick Quinn, Democratic national
committeeman from Rhode Island.
pointing out that there was no question
before the committee, asked the chair
man to bring an end to Senator Morri-.
sons speech.
II want to Stifle this riot" was Mr..
Quinn's reply to Senator Morrison when
the latter asked If Quinn was trying to
prevent him (Morrison) from speaking.
Chairman RaSkob called for order
and got 1t. He said that the questions
brought up in his address to the COM
mittee were before the committee for
discussion and that he proposed to see
that any member Of the committee who
desired had chance to express his
views
Before the debate over prohibition
had concluded, former Gov. Alfred Z.