Evening star., 1932-06-03
.0LD-T|ME ISSUES
FACED BY PARTIES
Tammany and Prohibition
Share Spotlight as Con-
ventions Near.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Two familiar headlines of many a
past campaign-Tamman and prohibi-
tion-come very near to monopolizing
political speculation as the two parties
pack up their troubles and prepare to
fight 1t out at Chicago.
For the Democrats. the big conven-
tion question is who will be the presi-
dental nominee, and at the bottom OF
that, for the moment at least. is the
problem of what Gov. Roosevelt will do
to Tammany. and what Tammany will
do to him, and what the convention
will think about it all.
Among the Republicans, the only
great uncertainty is over the platform,
and nine-tenths of that uncertainty is
clustered under the single heading of
what to say about the dry laws.
Definite developments on both of
these subjects have been provided dur
ing the present week. while delegate
choosing was at standstill and other
determining events were almost entire
ly lacking
Centered on Seabury.
From political standpoint not even
the rumpus in Washington over taxes
and economy attracted anything like
the attention which centered about the
Seabury investigation in New York 1t
is hard to figure out where the con-
greSSional tangle has produced any new
issues, but it is easy to see that far
spreading consequences may possibly
flow from the expected demand that
Gov. Roosevelt remove Mayor Walker
from office.
Although there is the widest diff
ference of opinion among practical
politicians as to the direction of those
consequences, they are in substantial
accord on certain features of the case.
No one questions Tammany's support
of Walker, nor doubts that his removal
by Roosevelt would increase the prob
ability of unrelenting Tammany opposi-
ton to RooSevelt'S nomination. No one
disputes that in large section of the
country Tammany is unpopular. or that
in those sections definite Tammany-
Roosevelt break would help the
Governor.
There is agreement that the necessity
of decision on the eve of the conven-
ton would put Roosevelt on trial Just
at the most critical moment of his drive
for the nomination. He would be faced
with great hazard and a great oppor-
tunity He would have to show the
party how effectively he could handle
a difficult situation, and in that sense
his action, one way or the other, might
have a very marked influence on his
bid for leadership.
Not Fully Conclusive.
The Republican prohibition develop
mentS have not been quite so clear-cut
but have indicated progress from the
complete bafflement of a week ago. The
declaration of the united dryS that they
will stand by their guns has made its
impression. At least one cabinet officer
who has been advising that the oarty
cut loose entirely from the Anti
Saloon League now is predicting the
plank will be acceptable to the drys as
we'll as to the moist.
Summed up, however, the conference
OF the dry captains here was not fully
conclusive. They agreed among them
selves that they would ccnfer again
after the Chicago conventions If both
parties displesSe them, it may mean
that they will let the presidential cam
paign largely alone and concentrate on
electing dry members of Congress, re-
gardleSS of party. After all. almost any
approach to prohibition change wcu.d