Milford chronicle., 1932-09-16
WHERE THE BATTLE
HAS TO BE FOUGHT
Their Can Be No RepeaI Unless II Is
Favored By a TwO-Thirds Ma
jOrity of Congress
public Ledger

were asked to keep the pledge fol
immediate modification of the Vol
stead act made in their platform
Senator Pat Harrison objected and
remarked, We've got an issue and
do not propose to lose it"
Events, however, have shown that
while the Democrats may propose,
President Hoover disposes.
The Presidents definite declara-
ton in favor of restoring the con-
troll of the liquor traffic to the States
has taken the prohibition issue out
of the national campaign. The rea-
sonable Vets and Drys in both par
ties will vot their party ticket. A
Democratic Dry will get no comfort
from voting for Mr.. Hoover and a
Republican Wet now knows that Mr..
Roosevelt offers him no more than
he can find in his own party.
What the extreme Drys will do in
the national election does not mat
ter. They may give their votes to
the candidate of Prohibition Party,
but they are not numerous enough
to affect the result. Some of them
",
eide to vote the Republican or the
Democratic ticket as they will dis
cover that the intention of both Mr..
Hoover and Mr.. Roosevelt is to use
his influence to promote the cause
of temperance as we'll as respect for
law. What voters are thinking was
indicated when Senator Morrison, an
extreme Dry, was defeated for re-
nomination in North Carolina by
candidate who denounced the evils
of strong drink most bitterly and
professed his desire to reduce them
by the adoption of a workable plan
in place of that now admittedly fail
ing in it's purpose.
The Republican platform favors
the submission of a substitute
amendment to the States by a two
thirds vote of the two houses of
Congress. 1t is evident that no such
substitute can be submitted unless
those people who favor it elect Rep
resentatives and Senators who will
vote for it,
The extreme Drys understood this
weeks ago and announced their in
tention to carry the fight into the
congressional districts and nOmi- i
nate men of their belief if the candi-
dates of the regular parties will not
pledge themselves to oppose any
change.
They have defeated Vets in the
past when public sentiment had not
yet crystallized, but in many in
stances they have gained nothing.
This was notably the case in New
York when the dry Republicans nom !
mated a candidate for the Senate
against James w. Wadsworth and |
elected Robert F. Wagner, Demo-
crat, who was just as wet as Mr..
Wadsworth. They are pursuing the |
same tactics this year when they |
have nominated Dry to run against !
Mr. Wadsworth, who is now the Re- |
publican candidate for the House of |
Representative from his district. In |
presidential years that district is !
Republican by a majority of about |
$4,000 out of total vote of little |
more than 100000. 1t does not look |
as if the Drys would be able to de-
feat him this year.
There has been a radical change in
sentiment since 1928. Some of the
most active Drys in the House have
been defeated for denomination by
ayowed Vets, and Representatives
who have been dry politically for the
sake of the votes are now protesting
a change of opinion and saying that
they are willing to support a sub
stitute amendment.
1t will be necessary to get wet
majority in the Senate as we'll as in
the House if modification is to win in
the next Congress. One-third of the
Senate will be elected this year,
along with the whole House. Vets
in some States, notably in North
Carolina, have already been nomi-
mated in place of the dry incumbent.
1t is certain that the wet strength
there will be increased and it is
likely that some of the sitting Sena-
tors who have worked with the Drys
will see a great light and decide
that the time has come to abandon
the experiment no matter how noble
its motive may have been.
1t is possible, however, that the
present Congress, reading the signs
of the times, may do the job itself
1t is certain that the opportunity
will be presented to It. Senator
Glass has a constitutional amend
ment pending and so have Senator
Wagner and some others. There are
amendments pending in the House
also. Their hackers will demand a
vote. 1t will surprise no one fa->
miliar with the senstitiveness of Of
ficeholders to organized public SEN
timent if agreement is reached on
one of them by the necessary two
thirds of the members.
Nevertheless, the fight between the
Vets and the Drys will be waged in !
the congressional districts and in !
the States where Senators are to be
chosen. 1t is in these places that
votes on the subject can be made
and only in these places.
-<H-