Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-14
MONSTER MASS MEETING PUSHES
WET CAUSE AT CONVENTION
l 800 Flag and Slogan Decorated Cars and
Floats Take Part In Motorcade
10 Miles Long.

Far up In the line Of march was the
American Legion Band OF the Board
Of Trade Post.
1t was an amazing crowd that
thronged the giant coliseum, while sew
eral bands played patriotic airs. The
streets outside for several blocks were
filled with all sorts Of bankers and curb
mongers. souvenir peddlers. hot dog
men and vendors in startling variety
Within II was vast concourse OF peo-
pie gathered from all over the United
States
There were social leaders in evening
dress, prominent social workers. clergy
men. members Of the United States
Senate. leading financiers and impor-
tant business executives. political lead
ers and publicists-leaders OF public
thought in all lines.
100 Policemen on Duty.
flags. More than 100 policemen and a
duty.
The speakers included Mrs Polly"
Sabin, wife OF a New York banker,
speaking for a million women; DR..
Nicholas Murray Butler. president Of
Columbia University; Fred G. Clark,
commander in chief Of the Crusaders
who said that I'VE are no longer willing
to temporiZe with legislation that Gre
ates a criminal class powerful enough
70 threaten the very foundation OF or
gained society" and Matthew Woll
vice president of the American Fedora
ton of Labor.
We shall have our own opinion Of
the convention and the candidate which
hedges. which balances a wet plank
against dry candidate, or a wet can
didate against a dry running mate; or
the candidate whose conversion to the
cause OF repeal is SO recent that he may
be seen changing his coat as he runs
to the cOnvention-for that is obvious
~ a change Of clothing and not of
heart" Mrs. Sabin said.
Mrs Sabin emphasized that two ele-
ments make this the most momentous
campaign in history-the economic and
the moral.
Never before have the American
people been involved in such economic
difficulty: never before has the indus
trial system Of our Nation been ON trial
as it is today; never before has there
been such a lack Of leadership" she
said. But the grave moral question
that confronts us Is the more import
ant. CT far deeper concern to the nil-
lion women for whom l speak. 1t Is
upon the moral ground that We earnest
" beg the two great political parties
to include in their resolutions one for
the straight repeal of the eighteenth
amendment. Those million women are
going to scan the party platforms and
the records of the candidates with an
eagle eye
DIV Pont Meets With Group.
Back of the Coliseum meeting was
the cool leadership Of Pierre du Pont.
who sat in with q small group Of men
and one woman until midnight, phras-
ing an ultimatum for outright repeal.
which comes as the voice Of $500, 900
voters united under Mr.. du Points
leadership. Most of those who sat in
with Mr.. du Pont have no oflcial con-
nection whatever with the Republican
National Convention. But the power
that this small group OF outsiders w1elds
over the political insiders is q drama
of the convention.
This united repeal council Is looking
10 Senator Hiram Bingham Of Connect
cut to start the fight for them on the
floor Of the convention. The mass
meeting was in charge OF RAYMOND r
Pitcairn, organizer OF the Nepupncai'
citizens Committee Against Prohibition.
He is a Philadelphia architect. His
organization Is composed Of men who
contributed to the Republican campaign
four years ago. but strategically says
now. 1--WE will not contribute this year
unless We get wet plank that suits US
pitcairn was given an ovation In the
Coliseum. He characterized the 10y
atty" meetings of the "drys' as pit
liable" and said he had been assured by
some noted churchmen that they were
resigned to beer for taxation purposes.
only Hoover is holding the whole con.
yention back" Mr.. Pitcairn said. II
he would let it be known that he would
be content with wet platform, all the
hold-outs would fall like q row OF
dominOeS"