Evening star., 1933-07-09
PRESIDENT BACKS
FIGHT FOR REPEAL
Says He Subscribes to Demo.
cratic Platform in Reply
to Inquiries.

With three Southern States approach
ing votes on prohibition repeal, Presi-
dent Roosevelt yesterday put his force
behind the Democratic campaign pledge
to expel the eighteenth amendment
from the Constitution.
Pointing out that he had had in
quiries from Tennessee, Arkansas and
Kentucky as we'll as Alabama. Mr..
Roosevelt sent a telegram to Leon
McCord, the Democratic national COM
mitteeman for Alabama, repeating again
his stand on repeal:
Il have made it clear ever since my
nomination a year ago that 1 subscribe
to the Democratic platform 100 per
cent"
Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee
vote this month en- repeal.
Text of Message.
The text of the Presidents message
follows:
Il have received your telegram Of July
3 in reference to the repeal of the
eighteenth h amendment.
Il think l have made it abundantly
clear that the platform Of the Demo-
cratic party adopted last year should
be carried out in so far as it lies IN our
poWer. The special session OF the Con-
gress has already translated into law a
great majority OF the pledges made.
"Cne of the pledges, of the platform
reads as follows: We advocate the re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment To
effect such repeal we demand that the
Congress immediately propose consti-
tut.onal amendment to truly representa-
tie conventions in the States called
to act solely on tina proposal
The Congress has acted on this and
many of the States are now engaged
in holding elections for the conventions
proposed.
Finally. I have made it clear ever
since my nomination year ago that l
subscribe to the Democratic platform
100 per cent.
In view of the fact that have had
so great a number of kilograms similar
to yours not only from your State, but
from Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky
and others, am taking the liberty Of
giving this message to you to the press.
Sincerely.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"
One Of First Utterances.
This is one of the first utterances of
Mr. Roosevelt on prohibition repeal
since he took the oath Of office. How
ever. in proposing the new taxes to un-
derwrite the national recovery program
! he recommended that these new levies
become imperative if and when pro-
hibition is repealed and revenue is avail
able from the sale of liquor.
In his acceptance speech at Chicago
year ago, he said he was whole
heartedly in favor Of the Democratic
platform.
Postmaster General Farley has been
leading the administrations drive for
repeal and he is concentrating on the
campaign in the South. He will ad-
dress a gathering in Memphis, Tenn,
on July IS, five days before that State
votes, and his speech will be transmitted
to gatherings in Alabama and Arkan-
sas. which ballot on July 18.
The 16 States which so far have
voted have favored repeal and, with the
fight swinging into the South, Alabama
Arkansas and Tennessee are regarded
as the real battle-ground. Farley and
i-prohibitionists believe that If these
States vote wet the eighteenth amend
ment will be removed from the Consti-
tuition by January /.
Farley has twice urged Gov Laffoon
Of Kentucky to include provision for q
repeal convention in the latters prof.
| ected call for a special session Of the
State Legislature.