The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-22
hint HOOVER
MIGHT FAVOR
DRY REVISION
Still Open Minded on
Whole Subject, Some
of Friends Say.
PRESIDENT is MUM
Opposes Only Specific
Changes Suggested by
Group, FeSS Says.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. pa Sec
ond quandary in connection with the
Wickersham report arose today
when President Hoover was repre-
sented in some quarters as not
necessarily being opposed to re-
vision of the eighteenth amend
ment, but only to the specific
changes conditionally suggested by
the commission.
Mr.. Hoover's letter transmitting
the report to congress generally was
interpreted at the time as a definite
stand against any tampering with
the amendment.
Today, however, number of his
friends insisted that the President
still is open minded on the whole
prohibition situation.
Conflict in Report
The first mystery developed when
it was found individual members of
the commission, in their separate
statements attached to the report,
had expressed disagreement with
recommendation which on inspec-
ton of the report, seemed to be non
existent.
These sections, presumably, had
to do with recommendation for re-
vision of the eighteenth amend
ment.
The United Press was informed
by source close to the President
that such recommendations had
been removed from the report at
the Presidents insiStence, and al
though denialS have been made by
Chairman Wickersham of the COM
mission, no other explanation of the
conflicts has been forthcoming.
Thought Against Change
When the President transmitted
the report to congress his language
was Immediately interpreted as plac-
ing him on record against revision
of the amendment.
The President in his message
said:
1.-THE commission, by a large ma
jority, does not favor the repeal of
the eighteenth amendment as a
method of cure for the inherent
abuses of the liquor traffic. I am
in accord with this view.
Il am in unity with the spirit of
the report in seeking constructive
steps to advance the national ideal
of eradication of the social and eco
nomic and political evils Of this
traffic, to preserve the gains which
have been made and to eliminate the
abuses which exist, at the same time
facing with an open mind the diff
f1cultieS which have arisen under
this experiment.
FeSS Expresses View
81 do, however, see serious objec-
lions to and, therefore, must not be
understood as recommending the
commmiSsion's proposed revision of
commissions amendment which is
suggested by them for possible con-
sheraton at some future time if
the continued effort at enforcement
should not prove successful.
my own duty and that of all ex-
ecutive officials is clear-to enforce
the law with all the means at our
disposal, without equivocation or
reservation"
Senator Fess, chairman of the
Republican national committee, in
published interview today, which
followed closely the lines of an edi-
torial in at least one pro-adminis-
tration newspaper this morning,
said:
President Is Silent
1.-THE President only is opposed to
the form of revision recommended
in the Wickersham report. He does
not wish revision that would throw
the whole wet and dry question
into congress to harry congressman
for perhaps another 100 years"
No amplification as to the Presi-
dents exact position, however, wa;
forthcoming at the White House to-
day when newspaper men sought ar
expression.