Evening star., 1932-07-16
|CHO|CE Of HOOVER
VOICED BY DRyS
IN POLICY REPORT
Methodist Leaders Block Hot
Fight to Openly Indorse
G. o. p. Ticket.
COLVIN QUITS BOARD
TO PUSH THIRD PARTY
Loophole Left for Bolt if Accept
ance Speech Takes on
Damp Tinge.

A comparison OF the public utteranceS
OF the Republican and Democratic
presidential nominees clearly indicating
preference for President Hoover. was
issued late yesterday by the National
Prohibition Board of Strategy for
guidance Of the organized drys of the
country in the coming election
An intense fight by a strong element
within the board to force immediate
open Endorsement of Mr. Hoover fell
short of success in the face of de-
termined stand by Methodist leaders
and those who rallied TO their support.
The summation of campaign policy
finally adopted by the strategy body,
however in the words of one of the
prohibition chieftans, amounts to
virtual Endorsement" Of the Hoover
Curtis ticket. but leaves a loophole for
the drys in case President Hoover
changes his previously expressed stand
in respect to the eighteenth amendment
in his acceptance speech.
Colvin Quits Board.
The comparison of the two jor
party candidates and the statement in
the declaration Of policy that 1T may
be taken for granted that either the
Republican or Democratic candidates
will be elected" had a flare back in the
resignation from the board of strategy
Of D. Leigh Colvin, national chairman
of the prohibition party.
Asserting the resume of President
Hoovers record makes him out to be
drier than is warranted. Mr.. Colvin
rendered his resignation following
agreement on the policy declaration. He
is pushing actively plans to put
strong. nationally known bone-dry third
party ticket in the field.
Mr.. Colyln yesterday sought TO per-
Suade Senator Borah Of Idaho to head
the prohibition ticket, but was met with
refusal
In its statement the board advised
the dry electorate OF the Nation to sup
port those candidates who believe that
prohibition ought TO be the law
Avoid Resubmission Plan.
President Hoover and Vice President
Curtis were pictured by the board as
adhering to this view. No reference
was made In the statement to the re.
submission plank in the Republican
platform. and the Democratic platform
was mentioned only in a quotation from
Gov. Roosevelts acceptance speech.
A definite decision to fight resubmis-
sion was embodied in the declaration.
One wing Of the dry forces had advo-
Gated resubmission in order to obtain a
reafirnation of prohibition from the
country.
The board stated:
We fully agree that the question of
prohibition should be settled BY the
votes OF the people, who under the Con-
stltutlon have the right to vote in the
election OF Senators. Congressman and
legislators, which officers after election
are charged with the power to vote for
or against the resubmiSsion or ratifica-
ton OF amendments to the Constitution.
People Should Determine.
The eighteenth amendment was en-
bodied in the organic law by the votes
OF Senators. Congressman and State
legislators, all elected by the people IN
the constitutional manner
The question of the retention, mod
ification or repeal of the eighteenth
amendment should likewise be deter
mined by vote of the people in sena-
torlal. congressional and legislative elec-
tions"
The declaration advised that the
record and present attitude of all can
oldateS on the question of submission.
modification or repeal of the eighteenth
amendment, or the weakening of the
volstead act or OF the State prohibition
enforcement laws, be secured and pub
nShed, in order that the position OF
such candidates may be clearly indi-
Gated in present and future elections"
Following the resume Of utterance of
PRESIDENT Hoover on prohibition. the
declaration contained the statement
that in his acceDtance Sneech he will
ooubtless deal further with this sub
ject"
Vice President Curtis was pictured as
bone dry.
Roosevelt Speech Quoted.
Gov. Roosevelt was quoted in his ac-
ceptance speech as saying This con-
vention wants repeal. Your candidate
wants repeal"
The presen- tttitude of Speaker Gar
ner was given in his statement to the
press June 81, when he said:
When the prohibition amendment
greSs, voted against it.
Il have never believed it sound or
workable, and it should be repealed"
Speaking yesterday from the Senate
floor. Senator Harrison, Democrat of
Mississippi, pledged his support to the
Democratic repeal plank.
The Mississippi Senator told his COL
leagues that he had supported at Chi
cago a plank calling for resubmission
of the prohibition question to the
people
But now that a repeal plank has
been adopted" he said, L will give
it my support. I did not want to 60
that far, but I am for it,