Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
BY GEORGE VAN SLYKE.

NEW YORK. September l2-In this
formative period Of the 1882 national
political campaign the groundwork Is
being laid for another conflict on pro-
hibition in the Democratic party The
latest Developments indicate clearly
that whatever else he may do, Alfred
E. Smith of New York intends to lead
the fight for wet plank in the partys
platform His sphinXlike attitude Is
giving the several Democratic candi-
dates cause for worry.
Attention again has been focused on
Mr. Smith during the last week by
renewal of a report that he has init
mated to close friends that he does
not choose to be a candidate and Is
looking with favor on Newton D. Baker
of Ohio. The Baker boom has been
getting under way in his own and
othe- Middle Western States and is
leaders in Washington. The building
up OF Newton Baker as a rival TO Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is not an acct
dent 1t is not prompted primarily as
movement to head off Roosevelt,
although such may be its effect.
Smiths Silence Battling.
In the case of Mr.. Baker, as at every
other turn. the Smith influence rises to
challenge or annoy Democratic leaders
and candidates His silence is battling.
Gov Roosevelt is credited with making
progress day by day as the leading
candidate and the one big obstacle In
his way is the uncertainty concerning
Smiths position and purposes.
The drys, particularly in the South
ern States, are trying TO organize even
now with the intention of forcing the
next National Convention to take
modified position on prohibition and
face a battle with Smith as the head
and front of the wet bloc. The anti
Raskob faction. inspired by the rell-
gious sentiment which flared up in
1923. is baked by Smith as the ally
of the national chairman. The favor
ite-son candidates anxious TO get into
the race. are perpleXed. because they
are uncertain how far they can rely
on an AL Smith alliance. The vet
wing of the party looks to Smith as It's
llndisputed champion, who may De
counted on to lead its fight for wet
plank in the 1882 platform.
Will Be Convention Factor.
Smith appears indifferent to all this
political activity around him, and MS
only answer to the various reports con-
corning his plans is that nobody has
any authority to speak for him, and
that he Is saying nothing about events
still year away.
Whether or not Smith Is an active
candidate for another nomination.. IL
is becoming more evident every day
that he intends to remain IN polltics
and make himself one OF the control
ling factors in the coming National
Convention; that the Democracy cannot
sidetrack prohibition without a oattle
1T fnrfhPr
that the Democratic nominee for Presl-
dent must stand for wet plank or
risk losing the support Of some OF the
big Eastern States.
Gov, Roosevelt won both of his VIC
tories in New York as wet ana MS
record to date is consistent on That
issue His spokesman and managers.
however. appear anxious to play down
prohibition, subordinating 1t to the
economic issue. The contention OF the
Roosevelt boomers is that the best poll
ties for the Democracy Is to go easy
on prohibition, thereby opening the
way for the vets and drys to get
together and end the disastrous split
Of the two last national elections.
Drys Willing to Compromise.
The drys appear more willing to
accept that viewpoint than the vets.
One of the sources of Roosevelt's
strength to date has been that the
dry South would accept him, while at
the same time he is wet enough for
built on the theory that prohibition
can be kept In second place and the
depression forced to the front
Mr.. Smiths silence in the face OF
that proposal is ominous alike to the
Roosevelt men and the drys. The for
mer Governor may not be candidate
himself although credited with still
being receptive, but he is not going
to eliminate himself as the spokesman
for the 100000 Democrats who voted
for him in 1928. And that is taken to
mean. in other words. that he is going
to have a lot to say about who is
nominated and what kind of liquor
plank goes into the platform.
Not for months has Gov. Roosevelt
referred to prohibition. He is credited
with making Roadway this week by
building up the unemployment issue
before the special session Of the State
Legislature. He has taken a firm
stand for governmental aid to the I'M
employed, in contrast with President
Hoover's urgent appeal for private
agency relief.
Differ Over Prime Issue.
What is now seen as the fundamental
difference between the Roosevelt and
Smith groups is that the Governor
contends that the depression will be
the paramount issue on which the
Democracy can win next year, whereas
the former Governor holds that the
depression will be played out as a pri-
mary issue and that prohibition must
again come to the front as the most
important factor.
Even If the economic issue does hold