The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-17
'STRADDLE' ON
LIQUOR ST|RS
G. O.P. GLOOM
Affront to ProgreSSiveS at
Convention Also Worries
Many Delegates.
LASH AT BOY SCOUTS
Practical Politicians Resent
Domination by Hoover
and His Officials.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times STAFF Writer

IVA GNNLh
Times STAFF Writer
CHICAGO, June 17.-"If the
/ Democrats are wise and honest on
prohibition, We are gone"
That was the estimate made to-
day by many departing delegates to
the Republican national convention
as they weighed the political effects
of their ticket-Herbert Hoover and
Charles Curtis-and their platform.
1t was not expressed publicly
and there is a faint hope that the
Democrats will make their custom
airy plumbers, but when the giant
organ and 100-piece band had been
turned off and the last colored bal
loon had drifted down from the con-
vention ceiling, many Republican
politicians were dubious of the out
come.
Gloom Is Widespread
The situation and gloom-is COM
parable to that which prevailed at
/ the close of the 1924 convention at
Cleveland.
Calvin Coolidge then had been
nominated with the cloud of the oil
and Daugherty scandals hanging
over the White House. and Frank
o. Lowden of Illinois had refused
to accept the vice presidential nom
nation.
But few weeks later the Demo-
Gratis put on their bloody affair at
Madison Square Garden, refused to
recognize the national unrest and
dissatisfaction, and were badly
whipped in November.
Bitter Feud Is Drawback
Z Three factors enter into all dis
cussion of the Republican partys
apparently slim chances They are:
The Hoover straddle plank" on
prohibition.
The adoption of the most con-
sentative economic set of prin-
cipleS in many years.
The deliberate affrOnt to the
prOgressives of the west.
Another factor which will count
heavily is the bitter feud that has
developed between the national
committee faction and the group
which these local patriots. who
bring in the votes and cash. call
the Hoover Boy Scouts"
A SkirmiSh has been conducted
for months. 1t reached the stage
of virtual declarations of war at
this convention.
The practical politicians resented
the domination of Hoover and his
federal officials, especially in franz
ing the prohibition plank.
AntagOnizes ALI Factions
1t is pointed out that Hoover has
sntagonized all sections and fac
tions.
The votes cast against the ad-
ministration's "straddle plank, as
it has been dubbed almost every
where, came from six states which
have about $50 electoral votes.
And If threats uttered by old
fashioned Republicans may be be-
lieved, the time has come when
millions will cast their votes solely
on the basis of which party is the
wetter.
I'VE can't settle prohibition said
prominent eastern senator, until
one of the major parties takes
good beating because Of its pussy
footing"
With many others he did not
seem to care whether it was the
Democratic or Republican.
PrOgressiveS Denounced
In view of Hoover'S dictation of
the plank, it is expected he will be
the target of wet resentment even
more than members of congress.
| The repeated denunciationS of the
progreSsiveS, who we're represented
| by Sullen, but submerged section
Of the Wisconsin delegation, sur
prised even conservatives.
This may prove an open invitation
to half dozen Senators-NorriS
of Nebraska, Blaine and La Toilette
of Wisconsin, Shipstead of Mime
sofa, Nye Of North Dakota, and
others-to support a satisfactory
Democratic nominee. or 60 gallop-
ing on those famous wild jack
asses" on election day.
1t is obvious that the defeat of
Brookhart in Iowa and the La Fol-
lette losses in Wisconsin stiffened
the administrations attitude.
Fight Party IrreguIarity'
Hoover may have Straddled on
prohibition and in his last-minute |
unwillingness to approve the ditch
ing of Vice President Curtis, but
the platform makers were sure that
party irregularity' is crumbling
the republics cornerstone.
Many mourned the denomination
Of the dry, middle western, 72-year-
old Kansan, even though they felt
sorry for his plight.
But all except Hoover, and he
only in the evening of the day, con-
ceded that Brother Charles" age
made him liability.
Hoover could have obtained
younger wetter and merrier man
| by dictating as he had done with
respect TO prohibition.
Through presentation of numer-
Gus names as "favorite sons" the
stage had been set.
| But, having anrered the wet east