Evening star., 1932-03-21
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

The drift toward liberalization" of
the Republican party stand on the pro-
hibition issue has been increasingly pro-
nounced during the past fortnight.
Signs are multiplying that sentiment in
favor Of the adoption of a resubmission
plank in the 1882 Chicago platform is
gaining ground. No one doubts that
as things are now going. with nod of
approval from the President, it would
60 across handsomely. Most Of the
politicians concede that Mr.. Hoover can
keep a resubnission plank out OF the
platform If he openly and firmly op-
poses it. But II he continues his pres
ent silence and puts no secret curb on
the party chieftains and lets events at
the convention on this question take
their course, many observers are now
predicting that the convention may
finally swing around to the adoption
of such a plank The reactions to the
wet and dry roll call in the House last
Monday have been In that direction.
Those House Republicans who voted for
resubmission are glad they did so. Some
of those who voted mo" are experience
ing misgiyings. The tremendous ma
jorities against the eighteenth amend
ment now being reported weekly in the
Literary Digest polls seem to be regis
tering with the Republican leaders.
Representative Smell, Republican House
leader and politically dry, and Ralph
williams of Oregon. vice chairman OF
the National Committee, speaking from
the White House steps in the past few
days, have had something to say about
the Republican party meeting the
issue on the prohibition question" ,"
which was widely construed as pointing
0f
plank. Secretary of War Hurley on
the stump said something in similar
vein. Talking of replacing Vice Presi-
dent Curtis with liberal in second
place on the ticket bobbed up again.
Democratic Leader Representative
Henry T. Rainey of Illinois on the floor
of the House last Thursday prefaced his
stirring defense Of the new tax bill as
reported by the House Ways and Means
Committee with the following personal
tribute to himself: Il have been
member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee since and even during the Payne
Aldrich bill. No man on that committee
at present dates back as far as l do as
member of the committee. For 20 years
of time and more than that have been
studying carefully the subject of taxes.
I have helped to draft more tariff and
more tax bills than any other man liv-
Ing in the United States today. 1
think I know something about the art
and science of drafting and imposing
taxes-in fact, I know all about it. I
am going to tell you the result OF my
studies. I can tell you in few words
so that you will understand just as
much as I do who have studied 1t
for nearly a quarter OF century. The
science of collecting taxes Is the science
of getting the most feathers with the
least squawking OF the goose
4 =
The Railroad Brotherhoods at meet
ing of their executives here last week
nicked the following ''progressives" who
will figure in coming senatorial primary
battles and bestowed their Endorsement:
or sitting Senators up for reelection,
Messrs Davis of Pennsylvania, Brook
hart of Iowa, Nye of North Dakota,
Blaine of Wisconsin. Republicans; Black
Of Alabama. Thomas of Oklahoma, Nc
Gin of Kansas, Barkley of Kentucky,
Wagner of New York, George Of Geor-
pia and Hayden of Arizona, Democrats.
OF senatorial aspirants, the brother
hoods indorsed Newton jenkins, Re
publican, of Illinois, who aspires to the
seat now occupied by Glenn; Charles
M. Hay, Democrat, of Missouri, who
seeks TO succeed Hawes, who Is not a
candidate for reelection; Representa-
tive phil Swing, Republican, of Cali
fornia. who will enter the primaries
against solemn Sam Shortridge, the
Sitting Senator, and former Senator
Alya B. Adams. Democrat OF Colorado.
for the seat now held by Waterman,
Republican.
x X
The preliminary program Tor the
United States Chamber of Commerce,
to be held in San Francisco in mid