Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-10
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

in his capacity as head of the Demo-
cratic party, the President has sent q
message 10 the Democratic national
committeeman for Alabama urging that
the Democrats of that State line up for
the repeal resolution and elect dele
gates to the State constitutional con-
vention on July Is ready to vote for
repeal. 1t is quite clear that II a State
like Alabama, which has in the past
been regarded as rockribbed dry ter
ritory, votes for repeal week from
tomorrow. there will be no stopping the
ratification Of the proposed new amend
ment to the Constitution this year, or
certainly within the first few months OF
1884 Within a week, the administra-
ton has turned loose its powerful sup
port Of repeal. Not only has the Presi-
dent himself sent his message to the
Democrats Of Alabama. but Postmaster
General Farley. chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. has in q
speech at Greensboro, N. c., urged the
people of the Tar Heel State to vote
for repeal, and has sent brace Of tele-
grams to Gov. LaffOon of Kentucky
urging that when the special session OF
the Kentucky Legislature meets this
Summer to pass on the legalization OF
the sale Of beer. it also take up the
matter Of providing for an election OF
delegates to a State constitutional con-
vention to pass on repeal OF the
eighteenth amendment.
X
The Democratic party and its stand.
ard bearer in the last presidential cleo
ton pledged themselves to early repea
of national prohibition. 1t wrote a
IL int &c RI q =.
form. There seems no reason what.
ever, therefore. why the leaders OF the
Democratic party should not now cal
the attention Of Democrats all ovel
the country to get behind the repea
resolution. The 72d Congress. to the
surprise of a lot Of people, in the clos
ing days Of its existence. and while the
Republicans still continued nomina
control OF the Senate, put through. by
a two-thirds vote of both houses, the
resolution proposing repeal OF the pro.
hibition amendment to the Constitu-
ton. The great majority Of the Dem
ocratS in both houses voted for thai
resolution.
The New York Herald Tribune
which could not by the widest stretch
of the imagination be called a support.
er of anything Democratic, editorially
praises President Roosevelt for putting
hts shoulder to the wheel in the effort
to obtain prompt ratification OF the re-
peal Of the eighteenth amendment
The Herald Tribune has, it is true
been strong supporter OF repeal fol
many years. 1t has been wet anc
anathema to the drys. But its attitud.
is that of many of the members of the
Republican party. II the C. o. p /.
to make an issue out Of the question
Of prohibition against the Democrats
1t is a mater for future consideration
There seems little likelihood now tha
the Republicans will undertake any
such movement. Indeed. thousands o.
Republicans will sigh with relief if the
prohibition issue be lifted out of ths
realm Of politics for the time being b.
the repeal Of the eighteenth amend.
ment.
The Herald Tribune says editorially
Though the President preferred t
rest his appeal on party obligation, few
voters in Alabama or anywhere els,
can miss the fact that prompt repea
Is closely tied up with Mr.. Roosevelt.
courageous and able effort to balance
the budget. Along with many othel
critics. the Herald Tribune has fell
compelled to speak out strongly agains
the Presidents imitation policy involv.
ing an abandonment of the dollar. i
has also seemed important to us Il
stress the dangers inherent in the con.
cept OF planned society. In contras
with these perilous ventures on un.
charted seas We are glad to give
whole-hearted praise to Mr.. Roosevelt's
tight for economy and a balanced bud
get. Here is a sound endeavor that
II carried to a successful conclusion
cannot fail to work present and future
good Tor the country on vast scale.
To this successful balancing of the
budget nothing can now contribute such
powerful aid as the repeal of the eight.
zenith amendment. If Congress act.
promptly. excise taxes at the rate of a
billion dollars a year will begin to pou,
in. The goal will be in sight. and il
VIII be achieved without resorting t.
the onerouS income tax rates recently
superadded to the already high figures
The editorial stresses the need of OBJ.
tanning revenue from the controlled
liquor traffic 1t holds out a promise
as does the President and Postmaste,
General Farley, for the reduction OF
other taxes if the eighteenth amend
ment be repealed. OF course taxes are
taxes, and the money which will flow
into the Federal Treasury from thu
liquor taxes might have gone into othel
channels, as the drys say However
the Democrats-anda also many of the
Republlcans-believe that the taxes or
nquor VIII be paid with less Wry face
than taxes on incomes, on sales OF
many commodities, etc.
Arkansas, Tennessee and Oregon are
to toe the mark on prohibition repea
this month as well as Alabama. II
may be expected that the Democratic
leadership will not overlook those States
and Will appeal to the voters there, too
While the Democrats are urging the
voters to get back of prohibition repeal
one OF their number, Miss Sue S. White.
executive secretary of the Woman S
Division of the Democratic National
committee, addressing the National
Federation of Business and Professional
Women's Clubs in Chicago TODAY,
pledged the administration to a square
deal for women in public life. He,
topic was Women in Public Office, ;
and she not unnaturally took the op-
portunity to impress upon the club
women what President Roosevelt has
been doing and what other highly
placed Democrats have been doing to
give women chance at public office
Miss White, who has for years beer
an advocate of giving woman her full
share in government. through the bal.
lot and through holding public office
suggested that the women should &c
after county Offices, and, using them as
stepping stones. should aspire to State
and Federal Office.
Women in national political work y
said Miss White. feel a responsibility
to their co-workers in State, county anG
precint who helped to bring about the
present situation. One way in which
We can discharge this responsibility is
to stand firmly and consistently for due
recognition of women, as general
policy and to insist also that individuals
who have shown ability through efficient
party service shall receive the cocsider.
alton they deserve. We are by no means
passive in our efforts to that end. In
the President and the Postmaster Gen.
eral and other forward looking states