Evening star., 1932-08-28

ponents pledge the members Of their
party to destroy every veSttge OF con-
Stitutional and effective Federal control
of the traffic"
I have the right to assume that the
and on that assumption charge that
this statement was made to nislead the
people of this country and I assert that
a mere reading of the plain, unequivo-
cal provisions Of the Democratic plat
form will sustain that charge. So that
there can be no possible misunderstand-
ing, let me read the provisions Of the
Democratic platform on this point. It
begins:
I'VE advocate the repeal of the eight
eenth amendment To effect such re-
peal we demand that the Congress i'm
mediately propose constitutional
amendment to truly representative con-
ventions in the States called to act SOLE
ly on that proposal"
Advice to States.
So much for repeal. Now what does
it tell the States to do:
I'VE urge the enactment OF such
measures by the several States as will
actually promote temperance, effective
ly prevent the return of the saloon and
bring the liquor traffic into the open
under complete supervision and con-
troll by the States"
1t then clearly states what the PreSl-
dent either accidentally overlooked OF
deliberately misrepreSented:
I'VE demand that the Federal Gov
ernment effectively exercise its power
to enable the States to protect them
selves against importation of intoxicat-
ing liquors in violation of their laws.
1t then goes on to speak Of the Vol
stead law:
Pending repeal, we favor immediate
modification of the Volstead act tc
legalize the manufacture and sale Of
beer and other beverages of such alco'
holic content as is permissible undel
the Constitution and to provide there
from proper and needed revenue"
Thus the Democratic platform ex
pressly and uneouivocally opposes tht
return of the saloon and with equa
emphasis it demands that there b'
Federal control of the liquor traffic II
protect dry States. Only on the theor!
of seeking to return to power by th'
mere use of words can such statement
of the President of these United State
be explained.
But. meanwhile, another high prizes
has been heard from. In the per1ot
following August IL, the anti-repeaiist
in the Republican party raised thel
voices in lamentation, like Jeremiah
of old.
The Republican candidate for Vic
President heard this wailing. He has
tened to avow his devotion to the Re
nllblican platform, but he found in tn
words of the oracle full Justltlcatlol
! for the belief that the eighteenth
amendment should not be repealed.
And SO. in the true spirit OF thos'
| who in ancient times controlled tn
oracle for their own ends, provision
made for all possible contingencies.
New York Race Recalled.
In New York State in 1880 ther'
was a party which tried to ride tW'
horses at the same time. Ihe HepuD
iican party had one foot, It's canol
date for Governor, on the wet morse
and the other foot, its candidate 10
lieutenant governor, on the dry horse
| unfortunately the horses insisted upoi
going in different directions and tn
| oartV fell to the ground between them
This year the Republican natlona
leaders have tried the same clrcu'
stunt. The answer of the voter
throughout the Nation will be pre-
cisely the same. =.
i In the last analysis, my friends. tn
prohibition issue comes down 70 {
question of faith and confidence. IL
leadership and in the words OF Leaders
However people may differ as to tn
principle of prohibition, National o
State, they all will agree that a TEN
porizing and insincere policy Is dls
astrous not only to the cause OF pro
hibition, but to that of temperance q
well. The present leadership stand
convicted of attempting to eVade an
confuse this issue. The honest Or
will, I know, honor more the homes
wet than the shifty dry. and tn
-prohibitionist prefers, I know, In
four-square dry to the uncertain we
All will join in condemning a fearft
and timid practice of evasion.
Here, as before, I emphasize that tn
deep question in this campaign IS on
of confidence In leadership--in leader
The measure of the truth OF what the
: say Is what they have said; the measul
} of what they will do Is what they nav
done,