Evening star., 1932-06-06

Herbert Hoover Is undoubtedly up
against one of the toughest political de-
cisionS he's ever been called upon to
make. with drys and vets tugging at him
for their respective kind of prohibition
plank. Those who know the Presidents
mind describe him as dry. but not OF
the fanatical, uncompromiSing Anti
Saloon League brand. They say his
views are, in other words, mot i'm
placable" Whether they are flexible
enough to stand for resubmission
plank is another question. Throughout
his early manhood the President lived
abroad, in countries where liquor was
land Isl drunk as q matter Of course
In those days he was not total alb
stainer. He was never, on the other
hand, much Of drinker. His indul-
gence was confined generally to the
wine served at table on social occasions
When he and Mrs. Hoover returned to
America during the war prohibition was
not yet enacted. AS soon as 1t was they
decided at family council to go on
the water wagon for keeps. As to the
benefits of prohibition In our mechan-
lied age the President has no doubts.
His friends often have heard him dis
cuss the Importance of clear heads
and STEADY hands" in country that
lives the motorized life Of the American
people.
Politics being politics, Mr. Hoover
necessarily has to face the issue from
the standpoint Of its effects on the Re-
publican party'S interests in 1882. G. o.
p. drys like Senator Borah insist that
the one solid, reliable. do-or-die bloc OF
strength upon which Hoover can rely Is
the prohibition group. Broadly, 1t con-
sists of the churches and the women
1.-The President Is our man." one OF the
high priestesses Of the dry cult chirped
after recent visit to the White House.
The Borah group is haunted mainly by
the fear that any sort Of concessions to
the vets would be the thin edge OF the
wedge that sooner or later would re-
store the saloon, in fact, II not in name.
Let Hoover by SO much as q Jot or a
title ALLEVIATE his dry support. accord
ing to the Borah theory, and the Presi-
dent takes the first step toward inevita-
BILE defeat. Republican vets OF the
Bingham-B Butler -Wadsworth camp hold
the diametrically opposite view. Their
claim is that unless Hoover goes wet he
goes down-that if the G. o. P. gives
the Democrats prohibition as well as
depression as an issue on which to
fight this year victory in November can
be handed them on a silver platter.
" X 4
Carlos Davila, who has overthrown
the Chilean government and become
President Of what he plans to turn into
a socialiStic state, was one Of the most
popular Latin American diplomats ever
stationed in Washington. He was also
one Of the most industrious. His four
years in the United States, which ended
in 1881, were spent in ingratiating him
self with all classes and all sections OF
the country. He made many speeches
before trade bodies. A journalist Dy
profession, Senor Davila was filled with
an incessant curiosity and knew how to
crafty it. Small, dapper and energetic,
he liked the Capital social whirl In
1929, while the Longworth- Gam prece-
dence feud was raging, he gave an elab-
crate dinner party at the Pan-Amer1can
Union, at which Dolly Gam first re-
ceived public recognition of her coveted
rank as Second lady" She sat at
Ambassador Davila's right.
X
One by one extraordinary stories Of
how the depression has devastated
Americas great fortunes are coming to
light. Four or five years before his re-
cent death, at q time he was reputed
to be- worth anywhere from 0.000, 900
to 5000, 900 900, . famous philanthropist
endowed . foundation which was to
bear his name. At ~ disposal he