Evening star., 1932-04-16
PROHIBITION GAINS
As POLITICAL ISSUE
Resubmission of Eighteenth
Amendment Shows Activity
on Both Sides.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Activity toward resubmission of the
eighteenth amendment showed itself to-
day-an increasing factor in the political
PREPARATIONS for the June conventions
of sthe Republican and Democratic
parties.
At the Capitol, where hearings are in
progress looking to an early vote by the
Senate on reSubrisSion, the two Wyo-
ming Senators Joined In announcing
themselves desirous of placing the pro-
hibtion question before the people.
Both Kend-ick, the Democrat, and
Carey, Republican, have dry records be-
hind them.
In Richmond. Va. Bishop James
Canron, ir.. one Of the most active dry
leaders, announced himself in substan-
tiaI agreement with the basal fea-
lures" of the plan advanced by former
Gov Harry F. Byrd at this weeks JEFF
ferson DAY Democratic rally in Wash
1ngton to make possible popular vote
on prohibition.
Quick Adoption Seen.
Hearing of this. Byrd said he believed
that having extreme drys as we'll as eX
treme vets approving his plan, it would
be possible to secure adoption quickly
of the constitutional change he pro-
posed. In New York. the Times quoted
John J. Raskob, chairman Of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, as consider
ing the Byrd plan better than his own
proposal for a home rule" amendment,
The Democratic Committee Of New
York State, b. adopting resolution
for repeal of the eighteenth amend
nent brought to six the list Of State
organizations in the party which so far
have recorded themselves for repeal or
resubmission in their preparations for
the Democratic Convention. The New
York action said Gov. Roosevelt, who IS
now the leading presidential candidate,
was in keeping with his ideas.
A prediction that the Republican
National Convention would go on record
for repeal was made in Chicago in an
interview given by Nicholas Murray
Butler. who said he would force a roll
call on a resolution to that effect and
that there would be no 'pussyfooting.
Cannon Makes Qualifications.
In Bishop Cannon's approval of the
Byrd plan were a number Of highly i'm
portant qualifications. He opposed Wig
orously inclusion in either party plat
form of a plank recommending it. He
objected TO singing out the eighteenth
amendment for its application and
favored making the direct vote by the
people in each State take the place OF
the present provision for constitutional
conventions as an alternative to ratltl-
cation by the legislatures.
Byrd's proposal was for submitting
an amendment to tf.e legislatures,
which. upon ratification, would provide
that future changes to the Constitution
be S-:h=.itted direct to the people by
Congress 1cS vote at a date when no
other elections would be held, the vote
to be counted by States, and rat1flca-
ton being (as At present. by three
fourths of the States.
Bishop Cannon At the same time said
responsibility will rest on President
Hoover for whatever prol:.b .bition action
is taken by the Republican convention.
He expounded these views in an address
before the State Anti-Saloon League
convention, and expanded them to dis
cusS the possibility Of both parties
adorting planks for resubmission or re-
peal
Third Party Hinted.
He hinted at a third party movement
In that event.
The declaration of the wyoming
Senators was brief:
We are for resubmission Of the pro-
hibition question to the people of the
several States. We are unalterably OPP
posed to a return to the saloon with
its attendant evils. We would con-
sider favorablv plan of Federal con-
troll and regulation of the liquor traffic
under which the rights of the dry
States would be fully protected"
Kendrick has voted for every prohlbi-
ton measure including the eighteenth
amendment Carey, elected Governor
in 1918 on dry platform, favored
referendum in 1890 when running for
the Senate.
Lineup of States.
Democratic State conventions or
committees which have expressed
themselves for change or new vote
on prohibition include with New York,
Iowa, Maine Michigan, Minnesota and
Washington. OF the ether States
holding such meetings, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma
ignored the question; Missouri de-
feated an anti-prohibition resolution
and Georgia declared fatty for en-
forcement Of all laws.
For the Republicans, only Missouri
acted for a change, calling upon Con-
gress to obtain a national convention
to deal with prohibition and nothing
else. The Connecticut delegation was
wet, but no platform instructions were
given. Florida, Georgia. Iowa, Kansas. |
Louisiana, New York, Virginia and New
Mexico ignored the question; Maine
registered opposition to repeal and
North Carolina went on record for
retention Of prohibition.
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