Evening star., 1932-07-06
WET PLANK THORN
OF LEADERS HERE
Democrats Find Difficulty
Unifying Ranks After
Chicago Fight.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

It Is completely accurate to say that
the principal thought Of Democrats in
Washington today is about that 100 per
cent wet repeal plank they adopted at
Chicago, and to say that their thoughts
are uncomfortable.
It is distinctly q morning after
feeling. In the terninology Of con-
viviality, they wish they had stopped
with the second drink, or at least the
third. Their feeling about what they
did about prohibition ts that Of a man
who finds himself firmly welded to a
comparative stranger when all they
The lady's marriage certificate is indis-
putable.
That 100 per cent wet plank was
adopted at Chicago by a vote of 934A
to 213A, which is pretty overwhelming.
The equally certain fact is that not
more than 500 of the delegates, three
weeks ago, meant to go that far.
A majority of that convention went
to Chicago meaning to adopt resub-
mission and stop at that. They did not
entertain the thought Of a repeal plank.
When they ask themselves, as they rue
fully do, how they happened TO adopt
unqualified repeal, they reply that they
we're stampeded. They can't remem-
DCl III AEtcln IuSL AlOW ~ lldRDCAlCQs
They have a limp-tailed feeling that
they didn't put up as strong a fight as
they meant for their view, or even any
real fight at all.
South and West Objectives.
A fair explanation Is that in the
convention the South and West had
two objectives. One was TO get Smith
and RaSkob out Of power. The other
was to restrain the prohibition plank
to mere resubmission. When men have
two objectives, one becomes minor. It
was the resubmiSsion objective that
suffered.
To a degree, the dry Democrats are
not self-reproachful. If one of their
objectives had to go overheard they are
and we're content it should be resub-
mission. Their main objective, for
which they were willing to sacrifice
anything, was to get rid of Smith and
Raskob. On that ball they kept their
eyes at all times. and the repeal plank
was sort of carried round their end by
forward pass and quick run by the
vets.
To some extent the drys felt they
might neutralize the greater part of
Smiths fighting determination by let
ting him have the repeal plank. That
was personal vindication for Smith and
to some extent may have smoothed
down his belligerence. At every minute
throughout the convention there were
rumOrs that Smith would do something
dramatic, would make the fight of his
life" to defeat Roosevelt and keep power
for himself and Raskob. The South and
West were at all times q little in terror
OF that. Unconsciously, this fear may
have influenced them not to make
real light or show their strength on the
resuomisSion plank. Certainly the fact
Is they did not, and the repeal plank
won with little real opposition.
Southern Wing Dismayed.
What is said here reflects Washing
ton, and Washington, of course. reflects
mainly the Southern Democracy. It is
the Southern Democrats who are dis
mayed to find they must 90 home to
their constituents with a 100 per cent
wet plank and a 100 per cent reversal
OF the partys former position.
They fear-indeed they do not fear,
they are certain-that In their States
and congressional districts, the major
tiles OF their constituents have not gone
that far in change of attitude about
prohibition. In Virginia and other
Southern States, Democrats who must
campaign for local offices and for
Representative in Congress, say frank
ly they will disavow the party plank on
prohibition. They say they viii run on
personal plank which will be for re-
submission and will be similar to the
Republican plank.
This does not necessarily mean there
will be material defections in the south
to the Republican party. Few at this
time expect any Southern State to 90
other than Democratic. The same con-
dition, however, exists in the rural
parts Of Ohio and other Western States.
1t Will be surprise il Democratic Gov.
George W. White, running for re-elec-
tion in Ohio, does not disavow or
qualify his adherence TO the Democratic
plank on prohibition. In such States.
more or less evenly divided between the
parties, and with large rural popula-
ton, the Republicans will reap decided
advantages through having the milder
plank on prohibition.
(Copyright, ie32)