The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-24
DEMOCRATIC
REPEAL GROUP
IN MINORITY
ReSubmiSSion Appears to
Be Choice of Majesty of
Committee.
WON'T COMMIT PARTY
Roosevelt Men Apparently
viii Hold Whip Hand
in Conferences.
BY LYLE c. WILSON
United Press Staff Correspondent

CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS.
CHICAGO, June 24.-Submission of
repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment, with safeguards for states
against return of the saloon. was
developing rapidly today as a COM
promise prohibition plank.
The controlling majority of the
Democratic national convention
may be expected to agree on such
/ proposal
The prospective plank would not
commit the party to repeal, but
would pledge a Democratic congress
to give the states opportunity to
pass again upon the prohibition
/ question.
If the Democrats continue in the
way they are going. it appears that
that prohibition may not figure as
a clear-cut issue in the campaign.
Republicans put in their platform
last week a pledge for prompt sub
mission to the states of an amend
ment to the eighteenth amendment.
They continued that the federal
government should retain power to
preserve. gains already made in
dealing with the evils inherent in
the liquor traffic
Smith Wants Repeal
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt
OF New York is reported to be in
sisting that there shall be precau-
tions in the prohibition plank
against the return of the saloon.
Former Governor Alfred E. Smith
wants repeal. In the meantime he
would amend the Volstead act to
legalize beverages of comparatively
slight alcoholic content. Beer-fo
revenue Democrats rally around the
Smith proposal.
There are other proposals. in
Guiding William Gibbs McAdoo.
that there be a national referen-
dunn sponsored and paid for by
congress.
But the real platform fight on
prohibition will be whether there
shall be pledge for immediate
liberalization of Volsteadism or de-
lay until constitutional machinery
has had opportunity to act on the
eighteenth amendment.
It appears the platform commit
tee will be split. with Roosevelt
men in the majority, The Smith
group, including representatives of
some of the favorite son candi-
dates. is expected to bring to the
convention floor a minority report
for immediate legalization Of beer
and so-called light wine.
Even if such plank were adopted
it would be too early to raise thirst
this summer. because congress could
not act until next December.
Raskob Thinks He's Right
Chairman John J. Raskob of the
national committee told the United
Press that he believed his action in
calling the national committee to
consider the question on March 5,
1880, had dissipated much of the
passion which had surrounded the
issue.
ut wasn't that I expected the
national committee to take any ac-
tion," Raskob said, "but only that I
wanted to get the question before
the people. Many persons thought
I was mistaken in stirring it up
then, but was not. The fighting
had to come and we had it more
than year before this convention"
Peace, electric power, Porto Rican
statehood, economic questions, agri-
culture and tariff have been al
lotted hearing time before the plat
form committee today.
Labor, highways and prohibition
speakers will be heard Saturday.