The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-23
Meeting a Major Issue
BY ROBERT P. SCRIPTS


paper, has announced its support of Senator James
J. Davis ex-secretary of labor in the Republican
senatorial primary in Pennsylvania. In the past the
Pittsburgh Press and other Scripps-Howard news
papers have opposed the brand Of conservative and
stand-pat party politics with which Davis has been
identified in his state and at Washington.
In this instance Senator Davis has declared him
self as favoring modification of the Volstead act and
repeal of the eighteenth amendment. His opponent,
the colorful General smedley D. Butler of marine
corps and Philadelphia police department fame, is
wel-knoWn 100 per cent prohbitionst, and is sup
ported chiefly by a no less prominent prohibtonist,
Governor Clifford Pinchot.
AS senator, Davis voted for and Pinchot and his
friends advocated direct federal relief for the
employed On this matter the two candidates. are
pitched, apparently. on ground.
The Pittsburgh Press expresses no overweening
enthusiasm for the mental stature or political cour-
age Of Candidate Davis. At the same time, its ed-
tors have reason to distrst the attitude toward civil
liberties of Candidate Butler which, from speeches
he has made in the past embraces the military and
autocratc rather than the American and democratic
ideal.
From the above it is obvious that, to the editors
of the Pittsburgh Press the outstanding question in
volved in the present contest is that of prohibition
This is the issue that is thought paramount.
Wherever other elements of character and public
policy permit this is the stand that other Scrippa-
Howard newspapers may be expected to take.
And with good, and sufficient, and well-consid-
cred reasonl
The problem OF amending, if not repeating, oppres-
sive federal prohibition laws has passed out Of the
realm of academic debate, and into the sphere of
quite possible political action In the recent wet-dry
test vote in the house of representatives, twentyone
reversed votes would have meant prohibition defeat
This possibility which becomes almost immediate
by reason Of the elections this fall tnges our whole
political horizon Every representative and senator to
be elected this year undoubtedly will have the oppor-
tunty and the duty during his term of office, to cast
a vote on prohibition that really will count.
Heretofore this situation has not seemed to exist.
Today it dictates only possible honest course-to
meet the issue and to meet it squarely.
The Scrpps-Howard newspapers favor immed
ate modification of the volstead act, repeal of the
eighteenth amendment and return Of the liquor prob
lem to the states for the following reasons:
Present statutory definitions Of the alcoholic con-
tent of Intoxicating" beverages have no scientific
basis in fact while suppression of beer and wines
creates market limited to much more harmful spir-
tuous drinks.
Any federal sumptuary legislation is at variance
with the whole spirit of the Constitution, which is
that of the widest possible degree of home rule.
Proved ineffective in practice, federal attempts to
enforce the prohibition laws infringe police powers Of
states.
While liquor some of it poisonous, flows freely
everywhere the federal government foegoes vast sums
of revenue its taxation, and is put to enormous
futile expense, the whole making up large part of
the present burden of taxpayers So federal prohibit
1o1afr
crisis
1t is the profits of bootlegging and liquor snug
Cling that are the "sinews of war" for the major
rackets" that actually threaten our civilization today,
from kidnapping and banditry to ballot box stuffing
and police corruption
The scrpps- Howard newspapers believe that fed
eral prohibition properly will be major issue in
every congressional election this year, and in the
presidential election this November for these reasons:
So long as this question, cutting deeply into the
hearts of the people, cuts crosswise through each of
our great political parties, well as through pro-
gressve and liberal groups in congress- the develop
ment Of no sane and logical economic program by
any party or group is possible.
Until the question of federal prohibition is settled,
other progress the routing of criminals the clearing
out of political corruption, waits throughout the
country.
That the question is far from settled as 1t now
stands in spite of the eighteenth amendment and
the Vostead law, is demonstrated by the expressed
dissatisfaction of millions of people, well as by the
continued and from bad to worse" drinking habits
of the entire country.
The Scrpps-Howard newspapers have supported
the legislative activities and extoled the characters
of outstanding statesmen like, for instance, Sem
ators Norris Costigan, and Walsh of Montana, whose
political fights always have been fights in the inter
ests of the common man and of public decency, but
who are known as drys.
Certainly we will support no spineless simple
Organization" Office seekers against men of this
character in any case where editorial opinion is
demanded.
Nevertheless other things being equal or nearly
equal as in the Pennsylvania case, it will be the pol
Icy of these newspapers to point out with respect
to each of this years congressional and senatorial
candidates. that his vote in the future on pro-
hibton probably will be the most important vote
he ever will cast in the new congress.
The Water BarOns