The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-08
Coming Events Casting Their
Shadows Before
VALLEY City Times -Record)

VALLEY City TimeS-Record)
John J. RaSkob, chairman and
financier of the Democratic party,
warns his fellow Democrats that the
| prohibition question is going to split
the Democratic party north and south
unless the party meets OH common
| ground to bring about solution of
the problem. Mr.. Raskobs idea of
solution is constitutional amend
ment providing for state control of Ii
quor. This, if adopted by congress,
and ratified by the people. would take
US back to the yesteryears when we
had local option in some states and
blindpigs in those not having local
cpticn.
Those who some time ago said that
the liquor question would not be the
greatest one of the coming president
ial campaign have another guess COM
ing. Today you are hearing more of
liquor, modification, and government
control than you do about farm relief,
unemployment and depression-in
fact the noise of the vets has prac-
tically taken depression out Of the pic
ture, so We might say that they have
been beneficial to the human race for
that anyway. People are commencing
to lift the corners of their mouths in
stead of keeping them dropped. AS we
come closer to the primaries and later
on to the conventions and general
elections the vets are getting more
strident In their tones and more ag-
gressive-and they are making 1t
count.
We might as we'll be honest and face
conditions as they really are. The
vets are gaining and rapidly at that.
This may be due to the persistent
campaign they have been waging and
the rally of the liquor forces-but they
are gaining. In five out of seven spe-
cial congressional elections five vets
have replaced five drys. Yesterday
New Hampshire added one congress
man to the wet bloc. The lower house
of congress now has $50 vets whereas
the last election they had something
over 60-doubled their number in less
than two years This Is not propa-
ganda on our part-it is the fact-and
being honestly inclined to tell facts,
we are not trying to cover up or cam
outage. We arc sounding note of
warning. No person Is more dry than
the writer and all the Raskobs and all
the vets will never mean a thing to
us-but we have a sense of fairness
and believe that unless some ma jOr
process to settle this much mooted
question is made we are going to sec
one Of the greatest battles the country
has ever seen. If the country could
have nation vide vote on the ques.
ton and then settle 1t that way We
would not object to that-the only
thing that We would be afraid of i.
should the vets get licked If they
would dry up" We doubt 1t.
Now let us look at the other side O
the matter. Does the fact that thu
few Democrats who have happened K
be elected in Republican districts II
the past few months really mean {
wet victory? We doubt it. The hts
tory Of the country tells us that In al
times of hardship and depression tn
opposing party has profited by tn
peoples state OF mind and they hav
gone to the polls to vote against tn
, party In power to let off steam. The
do not look to the future but are JUS
voting their sentiments at the mo
ment. This has happened. we think
. In many cases. The Republican part
! Is IN bad In industrial sections on &C
count Of depression and the farmer
Of the nation are peeved because the
have not prospered under this edmir
istration. 90 every chance the peopl
have ID vote they have shown resent
ment and elected an opposition car
; didate. History is only repeating y
: self and perhaps It Is not 80 muc
/ 10 eain for the vets as it might seel
on the surface, but vote OF resent
jment To the administration for PR
z sent conditions.