Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-17

Comment on the meeting Of the Dem
ocratic Executive Committee in Wash.
ington indicates much satisfaction that
the prohibition issue was avoided but
fear that it may be revived later
Chairman Raskob is considered still to
be an issue and some feel that his
policies affect mere than the dry issue
alone. At the same time attention is
given to predictions that the eighteenth
amendment is likely to trouble the Re-
publican party.
Spirited debate upon the vexine
question of prohibition" in the opinion
of the Atlanta Journal, cleared the at
mosphere, as any free expression o.
personal opinion will, and left the at
titude of the party upon this subject tc
be determined by the people through
their delegates to the national conven-
ton some IS months hence. This out
come was wise and desirable, and sig
aalized a strategic victory for the South
ern members of the delegation, who
went to the meeting determined to up
hold the principle that determination
of party policy on dominant issues is
outside the National Committees prov
ince." The Journal commends the
prudent counsel of leaders like Senator
CordeIl Hull and former Gov. Harry
Flood Byrd of Virginia as q valuable
force" and. quoting Senator Ellison
Smith Of South Carolina on economic
distress" concludes, There Is no deartn
of issues potent enough to carry the
party to triumph next year, and these
are now only the more clear-cut.
Since the greatest need OF the Dem
ocratic party in preparation Tor the
1882 campaign" thinks the Fort worm
Star-Telegram, lis reunion and mar
n1ony. and since disunion and diShar-
mony were produced by the prohibit
ton question in the last campaign. 1t
would seem that all efforts should be
devoted to tanning the prohibition issue
so 1t could no longer play the wrecker.
But how is this to be done? Mr.. Ras-
kob apparently thinks that the best way
is to talk the matter over and produce,
if possible, a compromise between the
extreme vets and the extreme drys in
the party Supporting the logic of his
position is the small likelihood that the
prohibition issue can be entirely ELM
mated. And other than complete elm
nation, which seems utterly unlikely,
there is little chance other than that
of steering so neatly between the two
extremes that none may be so vitaIly
affronted that they will desert the party
in 1882 as they did in 1928. Whether
or not this can be done is doubtful. But
it must be done if the party is to i'm
prove in 1892 its greatest opportunity
since 1912 to elect President and Con-
gress. And it can't be done without an
approach, which is exactly what Mr..
Raskobs course constitutes"
r 4 II X
when Chairman RaSkob, despite
every consideration Of party interest, "
according to the Nashville Banner,
councils, Judge Hull promptly and Wig
orously repeated the protest which he
had made by way of anticipation of the
indefensible course of Mr.. Raskob A
man who had been a lifelong Demo-
crat. rock-ribbsd in the faith, eminent
in its service and who, once occupying
the same position of distinction and re-
sponsibility that Mr.. Raskob now holds,
had discharged its duties without ques-
ton from any source of either his abil-
ity or fidelity. was facing one
who was deliberately turning his back
upon every suggestion of the Demo-
immunity bath for trusts, combines
and special privilege, upon the founda-
ton principles Of the Democratic
party. The Poles are not farther
apart than are these men The Chat
tanooga News agrees with the COM
ment of the Banner and states that 1t
expresses the view of a rapidly grow
ing section of the Democratic press"
mfr Ras.ob did wrong" according to
the Roanoke Times, ito insist on dis
regarding the advice he received in adj
vance of the meeting He did the party
a signal disservice and gave aid and