Evening star., 1932-11-27


Senator, the people are entitled to
have this question of prohibition put
up to them and he IS prepared to
vote for a resolution so doing.
Senator Fess of Ohio Republican,
who has been strong supporter of pro-
hibition, said that he preferred to vote
for resolution following the lines of
the Republican national platform. per-
init. ng States to go wet, but outlawing
the saloon ani pledging the protection
Of the States which wish to remain dry
aga-n-3 vet neighbo-s.
Pco-lcs Right Supported.
Uhsther Senator Fess would vote for
a resolution merely submitting the ques-
ticn of outright repeal, he did not say
He IS keeping an open mind on that
question, he said. But he added that the
argument the people were entitled to
vote on the question had much weight
with him.
Senator Borah of Idaho, Republican,
and opponent of repeal of the eighteenth
amendment, has insisted that in a
short session of Congress, like the COM
ing session, it would be impossible to
dispose of such controversial questions
for lack of time.
Hcwever, there seems to be much
determination on the part of Senator'S
to get rid of this liquor problem as
quickly as possible. Many of the DEM
ocratic Senators are adverse to a spe-
cial session of the new Congress imme-
diately after President-elect Roosevelt
takes his place in the White House.
They feel that If they can dispose of
the prohibition issue at the short SeS-
sion, it will be big step toward post
poning call of Congress next Spring.
Most of the Democrats in the House
and Senate in this Congress are to be
members of the next Congress, having
won reelection. If they are to abide
by their platform pledges in the next
Congress 1t would seem reasonable to
Congress.
Filibuster One Possibility.
Whether Senator Borah could organ
fze the progressive Republicans, includ-
ing Brookhart of Iowa, an ardent dry,
into a filibuSter to prevent a vote on
the liquor measure at the short session
Is question. If the progressives un-
dertook such filibuster it probably
would be because they wished to force
special session of the new Congress in
the Spring. Some of them assuredly
would vote for submission Of repeal
resolution If they acted on the merits
OF the question.
The form the resolution attacking
the eighteenth amendment takes may
be important The Democratic platform
calls for a straight-out repeal amend
ment to the Constitution. The Repub-
ncan platform does not ask repeal. but
revision of the eighteenth amendment.
Senator Carter Glass submitted to the
Senate in the last session resolution
which. though it calls fer repeal Of the
eighteenth amendment, like the Repub-
lican platform, places constitutional
ban on the saloon and gives the Fed
eral Government authority to protect
the dry States from wet inyasions. This
resolution was taken up for considera-
ton in the Senate on the last day of
the session, July 16. by a vote of 81 to
81, with 33 Senators not voting. Il Is
to be presumed that all the Senators
who voted to take up the Glass resolu-
ticii at the time would vote for its
pas.ege. The list of Senators not
voting on the motion to take up the
resolution includes an overwhelming
number believed certain to vote Tor its
passage or the passage OF a straight
out repeal resolution.
Glass Measure on Calendar.
This Glass resolution is on the Sen
ate calendar and may be taken up by
a majority vote at any time the Senate
desires. No action the first day Of the
session is likely, as the Senate follows
precedent and will adjourn almost i'm
mediately after appointing commit
tee to inform the President that the
Senate has assembled. 1t will listen to
the Presidents message the second DAY
and then it has the Philippine indie
bendence bill as a special order there
after. Senator McNary believes that
This bill can be disposed Of by the
md of the week and thus clear the way
Tor the Glass or some other resolu-
hon. There have been hints tnat Glass
might like his resolution to go to a
committee and there have 1t perfected
before it is voted on in the Senate.
Nhis might delay considerably the ac-
bion OF the Senate.
If the House, however, sends over
n resolution dealing with the eighteenth
Amendment, Senator McNary said he
WAS in favor of having that House
resolution taken up promptly In the
Senate and acted upon.
President Hoover may have some
ching to say in his annual message
10 the Congress on the subject of prohi-
bition. He took a decided stand on
the matter in his speech accepting the
presidential nomination. supporting the
Republican proposal for revision OF
the eighteenth amendment SO as to
permit those States to become wet which
wished to do SO, but banning the return
of the saloon.
Should the House act the first day
ON this matter, it would act before the
Presidents message was delivered, if
the usual procedure is followed under
which the message is transmitted on
the second day of session. The Presi-
dent could, if he desired, send his
message to the Capitol Immediately
after the Congress had assembled.
Although 4. Mitchell Palmer, former
Attorney General of the United States,
has prepared a brief holding that the
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