Evening star., 1932-01-09
DINNER SPEAKERS
ATTACK HOOVER
Smith, Davis and Cox Tear
"ProSperity" Slogan of
1928 to Pieces.
CContinued From First Page.)

notice, as If it had to do with the
The audience, many of whom were resi-
dents of the District, laughed
If any of the 1000 Democrats at
tending the dinner and the hundreds
of other guests who heard the speeches
later had hoped for a statement from
Gov. Smith about his own future
political plans, they were disappointed
He said nothing that indicated whether
he would or would not be candidate
for the presidential nomination. Both
Gov. Cox and Mr.. Davis were careful to
explain that they had no ambition for
public Office
Gov Smith prefaced this recon-
rnendation for a bond issue with the
statement that the Federal Govern
ment must play its part in relieving
unemployment.
Problem for the States.
1.-THE Federal Government plan is
to pass the problem of unemployment
along to the States" said. Gov. Smith,
their localities and private charities.
AS to this problem, I consider the at
titude Of the administration TO be IN
defensible, inasmuch as it has already
been proven that the States, localities
and private charities cannot cope
with IT,"
He said he had served on all Of the
committees so far brought into exist
ence, whether public or private, for
the relief OF this situation in New
York, and he added I'VE are a long
way from bringing any full measure OF
relief"
while the diners appeared TO enjoy
the ti1rusts at the Republican admins
trstion, they were reused to cheers and
more cheers when prohibition was men
toned by the speakers.
When Gov. Smith first broached the
subject of prohibition with a short,
6nappy. What about prohibition?" there
was a yell from the audience. 1t had
been waiting for the subject to be dis
cussed. The diners had a great laugh
when Gov. Smith declared that rum,
booze, beer are running all over the
country today and the only man who Is
going to be safe in March, when you've
got all them figures to make up, Is the
bootlegger." $685.
Gov. Smith demanded that the Fed
eral Government cease spending an
nually 500, 900 'in senseless, use
less and fruitless attempt to enforce
prohibition" He said the Wickersham
Commission appointed by President
Hoover I1dQ ICdCllGu OllC NOAlS4OoAOAA RAO-
hibition could not be enforced, and he
added:
mot only have we spent S100,0o0,000
for enforcement in a single year but
what about the billion dollars in reve-
nue. that we have tossed away while
carrying on this useless attempt at en-
forcement?"
Former Gov. Cox, who announced
himself as "one not a candidate, recep-.
tive or otherwise, for any office
claimed to be entitled to discuss prohi-
bition with candor. He said he did not
wish to discuss the propriety Of intro
ducing it in one form or another into
a campaign which turns largely on eco
nomic issues, but that as Democrats we
might as well recognize that when the
hour Of solution comes it will be our
task"
Problem Called Urgent
"Any institution that has cost our
Government SIS 600 900 900 and created
a super criminal state, presents prob
lem that cannot long be deferred" said
Gov. Cox Its very controversial ma
ture precludes any hope Of the Republic
an politicians giving it straightforward
attention"
He called on the dry South to re-
member the sentiments of the Demo-
Gratis Of the North when considering
national prohibition and pointed to the
aid which had been given the South by
the Democrats of the North during the
days of reconstruction after the Civil
War He added:
I'VE forced the bloody shirt leaders
in the North aside and let the truth
20 to our people May we not, now,
respectfully ask that you call political
ecclesiastics back to their pulpits, that
truth may go to your people"
After the dinner was over and the
speeches done, Senator Carter Glass of
Virginia took Gov. Cox to task for