The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-03
garner firm
FOR REPEAL
SHOWDOWN
Speaker Determined to Ride
Over Heads of Die-Hard
DryS in House.
SNAPS ROOSEVELT WHIP
0bStruCtioniSts Are Warned
of Future If They
Block Path.
BY LEO r. SACK
Times Stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Obstruc-
tive tactics of a coalition of south
ern dry Democrats and Republican
flame ducks" has not weakened
Speaker Pohn N. Gamers determi-
nation to force repeal of the eight
zenith amendment through the house
of representative within a few
hours after congress convenes Mon
day.
The coalition did its utmost within
the house judiciary committee late
Friday to prevent prompt execution
of the mandate of American voters
to wipe out the dry law by finding
technical objections to the Garner
plan for a favorable report on the
resolution providing straight out re-
peal in accordance with the Demo-
cratic platform pledge.
Gamers course for quick action
on repeal is in sharp contrast to the
attitude of Joseph T. Robinson, sem
ate Democratic leader, who is will
ing to compromise with the drys by
weakening the repeal resolution to
include some form of protection
for the dry state" one of the Hoo
yer plan proposals.
Seeks to Face Showdown
Robinson's willingness to modify
the Democratic pledge is believed
to have stiffened the opposition of
the die hard drys in the house.
The Vice-P resident-e elect, however,
using the vast powers of the office
of Speaker, is going over the heads
of dry congressman to force an i'm
mediate showdown vote. He be-
heves he will succeed. So does Rep
resentative Fiorella H. La Guardia,
belligerent New York Republican,
who is acting as Gamers lieutenant.
Il am going to keep faith with
the American people" Garner an
nounced after learning of obstruc-
tive tactics by drys at an all-day
session of the judiciary committee.
There is not a man living who
can say that l ever have broken
a pledge to my constituents. In
this instance they are al of the
American people, he asserted.
Democratic Whip Cracks
Despite the 13-to-6 vote within
the committee against bringing out
a favorable report OH the repeal
resolution, Garner feels that this
does not adequately represent the
views of the house.
1T is up to the Republicans, he
said. THE Democrats are going to
vote for it. There will be solid del
egations voting from many states
Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Mary
land. for example.
The Democratic whip is cracking
over the heads of many of the
weakened southern drys. They are
being reminded vigorously that
straight-out repeal of prohibition
was one of the chief Democratic
platform promises.
They are being warned, also, of
the dangers involved of openly OPP
posing the wishes of President Elect
Franklin D. Roosevelt at the first
test of party loyalty after the cleo
ton
Rainey to Make Motion
These Democrats can be punished
through withdrawal of patronage
and in other ways They can feel
the stigma of critical party opin-
ion, too. 1t is because of this that
Garner is not worried over Demo-
cratic support.
La Guardia feels that Republican
vets and patriotic Republicans who
are inclined to heed the will of the
people" will vote for the resolution.
He estimates that more than 125
Republicans will vote for repeal
Hatton Summers (Dem., Tex,
chairman of the resolutions COM
mittee. indicates he will not accept
recognition from Garner on Mon
day to move to suspend the rules
to bring in the repeal. Instead,
Garner probably will recognize Rep
resentative Henry T. Rainey of Illi-
nois. the house Democratic leader,
who will make the motion.
A teller Cor riSing) vote will fol-
low and it will be at this first test
of wet and dry strength that the
drys will seek to prevent roll call.
Summers Is Indifferent
Defeat of the Garner plan within
the judiciary committee was at
tributed partly to the indifference
of Summers, who told Texas voters
last summer that he would support
the party platform.
other reasons given aside from
general dry opposition, were: First,
the proposal to refer the issue to
state conventions instead OF legiS-
latures, despite the agreement OF
both party. conventions on the
state convention plan; second, oppo-
sition to the seeming haste" of the
original forty-minute debate plan
which restricted unlimited oratory;
third. the failure of the Garner
measure to specifically mention pro-
lection for dry states as was advo-
Gated by Republicans, as well as
Senator Robinson: and fourth. fall
ure of the resolution to specincally
condemn open saloons
OF the thirteen voting against IN
committee, six. Kitchener, Yates,
Moore, Sparks. Christopherson, and
Dominick are lame ducks"