The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-25
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Political Trends

President Hoover in his acceptance
speech went farther than his party
on prohibition. He clarified his own
position on this burning issue better
than did the commitment at Chicago.
Now comes Vice President Curtis and
voices his personal opposition to re-
peal of the Eighteenth amendment.
MIR. Curtis is a Kansan and knows
that his state is dry and the G. o. p.
wants to keep Kansas in the Hoover
column. Thus is a balance struck.
The prohibition issue may give way
now in Importance in the national
campaign to economic considerations.
President Hoover, while seeking to re-
tain some degree of federal control
over the liquor traffic, would refer
the essentials of regulation to the
states. His opponent, Roosevelt. is
for naked repeal but opposed to re-
turn of the saloon.
Trimming away non-esSentials,
Hoover's and Roosevelt's positions on
the prohibition issue are not so far
apart. Militant drys have been driven
from Hoover. Moderates like Rev.
Daniel Polling will stay in the Re-
publican party despite the fact that
President Hoover no longer feels that
.here is much nobility left in the
Eighteenth amendment. Extremists
will follow Roosevelt, despite the fact
that the Democrats are irSistent that
there shall be no return of the sa-
loon. Their party leaders believe in
dumping the whole problem without
reservation upon the states. OF
course states rights as policy has
always been the cornerstone OF the
entire Democratic political structure.
President Hoover does not propose
to be dragged into a dry and wet con-
test. He moHtened his acceptance
speech to mollify the academic vets.
like President Nicholas Murray But
Ter who returns from Europe in a
much happier frame of mind. He
left Chicago in disgust as a result
Of failure to secure endorsement Of
outright repeal. Now he announces
that President Hoover has gone far
Their toward repeal than his party
and that both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis are in virtual accord on the
necessity for change in prohibition
laws. 1t is likely that Butler will re-
turn to the fold and work to carry
New York for Hoover.
Senator Borah still is sulking, but
politicians have habit of revising
their position as political sentiment
crystalizes. Such crystalization has
not taken place, but will come within
the next few weeks. Roosevelt starts
soon on his wide swing about the ma
ton and the Republican campaign
orators are preparing for the fray
Even the forgotten man" is getting
ready to receive his share of the
limelight.
Alfred E. Smith announces that he
will not attend the New Jersey recep.
ton for Roosevelt. He will divide hi:
time between managing an office
building and writing articles for Thu
New Outlook, an offspring of ths
Outlook and Independent. Theodore
Roosevelt sought the solitudes of thu
Outlook office when he left the presi.
dency. Smith seeks the monastit
quiet OF the same sanctorum. He viii
not help the man that helped him
Smiths withdrawal can hardly hurt
Roosevelt. Already there has beer
considerable criticism over the atti.
tude Of Smith and a few of his close
associates, such as Raskob ane
Shouse. Raskob Is at heart a Re.
publican and only left the party be.
cause Of the prohibition issue and x
help Smith for personal reasons. i
is good guess that Raskob will vott
for Hoover as he did for Taft ane
other Republican candidates in tn.
past. Shouse will work for the mill
tant vets Of both Republican an<
Democratic persuasion, thus elimi
mating himself from partisan politics