Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-02
CERMAK CALLS ON DEMOCRATS
TO BACK OUT AND-OUT' WET
SAYS Anti-Prohibitionists Are
Ready for Showdown
at Convention.
RooseveIt's Past Supports
Candidacy for 1882,
Mayor Believes.
By .h. Aaseclstse PRES.

By che Associated Press.
NEW YORK. November anton J.
cermak. the militantly snti-prohibi-
ton mayor OF Chicago called upon the
Democratic party today 10 go into next
years presidential campaign with a
candidate who is thoroughly wet"
Illinois democracy. he insisted. will
demand an ''out-and-out vet platfol m
and candidate as wet as the planks
he stands on" He expressed the fur
ther opinion that democracy should
pick a candidate "of the Al Smith
type"
/ Mayor Cermak said Illinois So con-
vention votes would be given TO United
/ States Senator James Hamilton Lewis,
who. he said. meets all the require
1 mens of an "ultra-wet" candidate.
Denies Peace Role.
! He denied that he had come TO New
/ York as a peacemaker between former
/ Coy. Alfred f. Smith and Gov. Frank
I lin d Roosevelt His pronouncement
! for thoroughly wet" presidential cam
didate was interpreted by some Of his
4 interviewers as stroke against the
/ candidacy OF Gov Roosevelt. but Mayor
Cermak answered direct questions on
I this point by saying.
well IL Roosevelt was wet enough
for Al Smith and wet enough to be
elected Governor of New York, 1t is
quite likely he would be wet enough TO
1 suit the vets of Illinois"
/ The Chicago mayor expressed the
4 opinion there would be enough votes
1 en- bloc TO prevent any candidates run
/ ming away with the nomination until
/ he had met the test on prohibition
| Asked to name the States that could
be counted on to vote together as vets,
! in addition to Illinois, New Jersey and
possibly Massachusetts,, Mayor Cermak
said:
Sentence Is Unfinished.
IT don't want to name them. but
/ there win be enough votes think
Tanmany-." He did not finish the
sentence.
Mayor Cermak will remain in New
York until Wednesday. He hopes to
i confer with Gov. Roosevelt and Mayor
| Frank Hague of Jersey City, as well as
/ former Gov Smith. He said ne had
| mot heard much" about the candidacy
| Of Newton D. Baker for President since
! the American Legion convention in De-
/ troit AS far as Melvin A. Traylor,
president OF the First National Bank Of
| Chicago, Is concerned, Cermak said:
"Traylor is a good Democrat, but
we are pledged to Senator Lewis" Tray
| LOT mas DSeH HlGngIOICu AIC4hCAlhy Va
late as a possible presidential candidate.
| The difference of opinion between
former Gov Smith and Gov. Roose-
Welt was slightly more marked today
| in consequence OF Smiths criticism in
a speech Saturday night of Gov. Roose-
| velt's taxation policy and advocacy OF
| the reforestation amendment. to be
voted upon tomorrow. Gov. Roosevelt
indicated he would reply to the Smith
1 criticism in a radio address tonight.
Mayor Cermak asserted that il Sena-
tor Lewis is not nominated Illinois
might switch to either Gov. Roosevelt,
Gov. Albert s. Ritchie Of Maryland,
Mr. Smith or Newton D. Baker. ANY
of them" he asserted. would be a
staunch standard bearer"
Aroused by Smith Attack.
At Tanmanys final rally preceding
Tuesdays election, Smith Saturday
night discussed at length the $4,000
600 State reforestation issue he pre-
viously had opposed. but aroused more
attention by his attack on Roosevelt's
taxation program.
The Governor, Smith said, was con-
ferring with the chairman Of the Com