Evening star., 1932-06-23
Republican Plank on Liquor
Is Interpreted in Many Ways

ton of retention or repeal. Once the
eighteenth amendment is repealed. IL
will be time then for consideration of q
substitute"
The plank was not within the
bounds Of expectation" says the Phil
adelphia Evening Bulletin Gndepend-
ent Republican,. but it is Of a con-
structive character and a definite pro-
posal on which to focus discussion.
where there has heretofore been moth
ing definite offered to remedy the gen
eral complainings of the inefficiency of
the existing formula of Federal prohi-
bition. Whether or not the plan rec
commended by the Republicans at Chi
cago Is approved. the convention is to
be credited with having submitted
plan and the pleadings in its favor will
stand until they are disproved. or q
better plan Is offered"
1T means" according to the New
York Sun independently. that It
pledges the Republican party to keep
bribery and corruption spread across the
wet States by maintaining a Federal
snooping system. The only merit Of
the plank is its declaration that any
change in the eighteenth amendment
should be submitted to State conven-
tions. Otherwise 1t is pitiful example
of ducking and dodging. 1t is described
as having been drawn by friends of the
President His enemies could have
written nothing more damaging; at
least. so far as Mr.. Hoover's fortunes
in the East on election day are con-
cerned. His only hope in anti-prohibi-
ton territory is that the Democrats will
be imbued with the cowardice shown
by the Republicans"
Declaration that the plank Is
"straddle" or compromise on the sub
ject is made by the Oklahoma City
Times independently. and the New York
Herald Tribune Republican the Fort
Worth Star Telegram independent
Democratic), the Scranton Times Dem
ocratic). and the Roanoke World News
tDemocratic), while the Chattanooga
Times (Democratic) and the Newark
Evening News independently call it OBJ
scure. The Altoona Mirror Gndepend-
ent, however. concludes that "in the
extremely difficult task Of attempting to
please both the vets and the drys. the
platform builders probably made as good
job Of it as could have been expected"
The Columbia (South CarolinD State
ODemocratic) states that the convention
"sidestepped the prohibition issue"
while the Rock Island Argus dndepend-
ent) advises the public Ito think It over
and to compare 1t with what the Demo-
cratic party will offer"
1T may be termed comparatively dry.
although few years ago an identical
plank would have been construed as
radically wet" thinks the Columbus
Ohio State journal independent Re-
publican), while the New York Times
independently asks, IF this is not re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment. what
is it?" The Salt Lake City Desert
News independently AYERS that the
drys are greatly disappointed" The
Lynchburg News Democratic) sees evi-
dence that "if the amendment Is
adopted those States wishing to be dry
may be dry and those wishing to be
wet may be wet. but there shall be no
saloons If Congress prohibits their
establishment. If that, as Daniel A..
Polling states. Is something more pleas
ing to the drys than to the vets. the
drys have greatly lowered their ideals
they have become moist. have become
what few months ago would have been
denounced by the Anti-Salooners IS
wringing wet"
Boston Transcript independent Repub-
lican). with the further comment: The
vets triumphed in forcing an unwilling
administration to concede that some
change in the application Of constitu-
ticnal prohibition Is imperatively de-
manded by the voters and that such
States as may so vote shall be permitted
to take themselves out from under the
amendment. The drys. however, won
the greater need OF success in securing
the adoption Of the administration
plank. which would perpetuate Federal
control CT the liquor traffic even in
states which hereafter may vote wet.
That would leave the issue the foot bali
Of future Congresses"