Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21
President Held
Hope of Foes
of Change.
WET DEMOCRAT
MAY MAKE RACE
Fess Declares Chief
Executive Will
Keep Attitude.
ny G. GOULD LINCOLN.


The prohibition issue has been
pttchforked still further into the
national campaign of 1882 by the
Wickersham Commission report
and President Hoover's letter OF
transmittal.
This presupposes the candidacy
of President Hoover to succeed
himself and the nomination by
the Democrats of a presidential
candidate who favors repeal or
revision of the eighteenth amend
ment.
The nomination of President
Hoover by the Republicans, sup
porting the eighteenth amend
ment, and the nomination of a
Democrat also favoring a reten-
ton of the amendment-for ex-
ample, Senator Robinson of Ark
ansas, the Democratic leader of
the Senate-would have the effect
Of taking the liquor question out
of the presidential race.
Hope of Drys in 1882.
The belief is prevalent, however, that
the Democrats will nominate wet,
Had President Hoover transmitted
the report of the Law Observance and
Enforcement Commission without spe-
ciflcally taking issue with the suggested
. revision of the eighteenth amendment,
carried in the report, the situation
would have been more cloudy.
In the eyes of the drys in his party
however. President Hoover has aligned
himself in favor of the retention OF the
eighteenth amendment and in opposi-
ton to revision. He Is their hope In
the coming national election.
It Is true that when he turned
thumbs down on the revision OF the
eighteenth amendment suggested by
the Wickersham commission the Pres-
ident did not close the door to some
other form of revision Of the prohiol-
ton amendment. But his action has
been interpreted as taking stand
against revision.
Says Letter Conclusive.
Senator Fess of Ohio Chairman OF
the Republican National Committee,
calling at the White House today. ex-
pressed the opinion in no uncertain
terms that he interpreted President
Hoover's letter transmitting the WICK
ersham report to the Congress as con-
elusive proof that he Is not going TO
change his attitude toward the eight
eenth amendment and It's enforcement.
After the close of the last congress
eional campaign, Senator FeSs in an
interview expressed the opinion that
the Republican party would espouse
the cause of prohibition In the cam
paign of 1882. With the Democratic
f,arty leaning to the wet cause so
strongly. Mr.. Fess was of the opinion
that there was no alternative. Wet
Republicans in New York and other
States Immediately took issue with the
position of the national chairman.
If President Hoover maintains ms
position in support Of the eighteenth
amendment and makes 1t clear he is
against any revision, he will face the
opposition of the wet Republicans Tor
denomination. in all probability, unless
issues other than that Of prohioitlon
dominate in the preconyentlon cam
paign and at the next Republican Ma
tional Convention.
The wet sentiment in the Republican
party has grown stronger IN Iecenl
years. 1t manifested itself strongly IN
New York, in New Jersey, in Massa-
chusetts in Illinois, in Wisconsin and In
many other States which are regarded
as necessary TO Republican success In
a national election during the last cam
paiRn, Unless some way can be founo
to subordinate the prohibition issue, II
is likely to trouble the Republicans In
the coming campaign.
In the past. or rather until the con-
Rressional election in 1880, the wet and
dry issue has proved more disastrous
for the Democrats than for the Re-
publicans. The boot now appears to
Be on the other leg, although the Demo
Gratis are by no means reconciled on
this issue, with many OF the Southern
Democrats attacking the Democratic
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