Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06
ROOSEVELT HAS LITTLE
TO FEAR FROM TAMMANY
Open Warfare Would Help Chances for
Nomination-Drys Can but Prob
ably Won't Block 1t.


wet, and we deplore the nomination Of
Roosevelt or any other Wet-but." The
but" is always the same. II is that
the Democrats really seem to have a
chance to win the presidential election
next year, and I'VE don't want to rock
the boat; we don't want to be the ones
to throw a monkey wrench into ma
chinery which seems geared and oiled
for victory" And often they add, Be
sides, Roosevelt's a decent fellow; we'd
better take him or We may get some
one wetter in a more Objectionable
way"
Leaders Are Democrats First.
The net of which is. there is not now
in sight any prospect that the Demo-
cratic drys will prevent the nomination
of Roosevelt
That constitutes the attitude of the
Democratic drys toward Roosevelt, as
respects the nomination.
What will the Democratic drys do
about Roosevelt as respects the cleo
ton? That is, assuming Roosevelt is
nominated by the Democrats, and as
Stunning the Republicans are as dry. in
nominee and in platform. as they were
in 1928-aSsuming that, what will the
Democratic dryS do?
To answer this We must draw a line
between Democratic dry leaders and
Democratic dry rank and file. Demo-
cratic dry leaders tend almost univer-
sally to be Democrats first and drys
afterWard. On the other hand. many
of the Democratic dry rank and file
tend to be dry first and Democratic
afterWard
If Roosevelt is nominated, Demo-
cratic dry leaders N the South and
elsewhere will tend generally to sup
port him Though there are few ex-
ceptions). That is, Democratic dry
leaders who are active in politics or
who hold public Office. Democratic dry
Senators, Governors and Representa-
tives-these will tend almost universally
to support Roosevelt if he is nominated
But this assertion. in such general
terms AS this, cannot safely be made
about the Democratic dry rank and file.
OF all the letters that come to the
writer of this article from readers
throughout the country few are so
earnest or convincing as those Of Dem
ocratic drys who write, in effect as fol-
lows: If Gov. Roosevelt tor any other
vet is nominated by the Democrats
We will not vote for him. And We will
not stop with refusing TO vote for him.
We are no. politicians, but We know
how to organize. We know our own
people. We will organize our counties.
and we will carry them against Roose-
publican nominee if conditions are as
they were in 1928: or. if the Republican
platform or candidate is unsatisfactory,
we will set up an independent dry can
dldate and carry our counties for him"
The possibility of a split in the DEM
ocratic party, of third party headed
by Democratic dry, is, as of today.
far-fetched-yet no adequate survey Of
the situation can quite ignore it. The
in a he
Sading spirit Of some of the dry Demo-
cratic rank and file in the South, is
seriously misunderstood and underesti-
mated by the Northern vets.
In all considerations of what will
happen as respects the Democratic
nomination and afterward there is one
fundamental condition which must be
borne in mind and which is not yet
certain. That consideration is: Will
the Democratic platform be wet?
Democratic drys, especially in the
South, make deep and earnest dis
tinction between a wet nominee and a.
wet platform. OF the two. they are
vastly more tolerant of the first. A
Democratic wet nominee such as RooSe-
welt. if running on a platform dry or
silent, would be regarded by many
Southern drys as merely an incident.
They would say that the fundamental
policy of the party is expressed in its
platform. and that, as respects nomi-
nees. the party is big enough TO toler-
ate varieties.
But if the Democratic platform should
be wet-if the vets should force into
the platform that wet plank which
Chairman Raskob proposes = in that
event many Southern Democratic vot-
ers would regard their party as having
passed away from them, would feel
freed from obligation to support it.
To put the same thing in other words:
If Gov. Roosevelt were nominated on a
platform dry or silent that would not
lead to a party split, nor to wholesale
OBJECTIONS Though even that condition
would be attended by some defections)
But if Gov. Roosevelt were nominated
on wet platform that condition would
really shock a good many dry Demo-
Gratis and would include in its after
math the possibility. at least. of a for
NAL split. with a third party composed
OF Democratic dryS.
There is one strong motive that works
toward Democratic unity. that works
toward favorable fortune for the Demo-
Gratis in every respect. That is the
weakness of the Republicans. Every
body knows that chiefly because of the
business depression Republican chances
are diminished almost to the point
where they must rely upon good luck
Nearly everybody would estimate that
if the presidential election were next
November instead of November, 1882
the Republicans would lose ana weu 1
lose without regard to what the Demo
Gratis do.
That condition, the weakness Of the
Republicans. the excellence of the
chance that the Democrats may win
that condition operates as a strong in
centive toward Democratic harmony. a
powerful deterrent of cleavage The
Democrats. in short, are. the benefic;-
aries of that strong cement which is
mixed Of the anticipation of victory and
the expectation of office.