Evening star., 1933-09-04
The Political Mill
By G.. Could Lincoln.


the eighteenth amendment. Democratic
political leaders in the Old Dominion
who have supported prohibition in the
past-assert that the vote there on
October may be as high as two to one
for repeal. At the same time that they
pass on the question of repeating ma
tional prohibition, the voters in Vir-
ginia will be asked to vote on State
prohibition. There the vote may be
closer. But even in this case the leaders
expect the drys to lose the battle. Sen
ator Byrd, who, as Governor, became a
dominant figure in Virginia politics, has
already declared for repeal OF the
eighteenth amendment. Senator Garter
Glass, veteran of many a wet and dry
fight in the Senate and out OF 1t, now
in Europe, may also announce tnat ne
will support repeal OF the constltu-
tional amendment, according to some
of his friends, and SO may Gov. Pollard
X X x x
Maine has stood for prohibition
State and national, SO long that It's
very name has become synonymous
with dry" The test there Is to come
a week from today. If Maine goes for
repeal-and there is good reason t0 ]
believe that it Will-then indeed it Will
appear that prohibition repeal will be
ratified unanimously by the States,
when they come to vote upon 1t. Yer
mont, which has been prohibitlon-
minded almost as long as Maine, votes
tomorrow. The drys are making great
claims about what they are going to
do in this State, relying particularly
upon the rural districts. But 1t does
not appear probable that the repeal
avalanche Will be checked IN these TWO
New England States. In 1882 1t was
claimed that former President Hoover
would carry sachusettS-largely on
the ground that all the Democrats, or
very many of them, were sore because
Al Smith had not been nominated
again for President. But it became
apparent that the same spirit OF reHolt
against hard times and the Republican
party, which was rampant IN otner
States had permeatcG Massachusetts
The repeal sentiment seems to nave
pcrmeated Maine and Vermont TO a
degree not believed possible year or
TWO ago.
Virginia is to have its beer today, nc
matter Tnat Happens there OCTOBER
on the repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment and of State prohibition. The 80
beer, legalized by Congress at its spe-
cial session last Spring will flow freely,
and for the first time in a score OF
years and more, the State will be able
The Legislature attended TO that
recently.
Jouett shouse, president of the
Association Against the Prohibition
"
States Will have voted on the repeal
amendment before the close of Sep
tembe-, making it possible-and ne
insists likely-tnat the repeal amend
ment Will have been approved by all
but five of the necessary SO States tc
ratify. The other States which vote
this month are Colorado, Maryland
Minnesota, Idaho and New Mexico
According to Mr.. Shouse there is de-
veloying a keen rivalry among the
States to be among the first 36 10
ratify repeal.
Many OF the national politicians will
heave a sigh of relief when the eight
eenth amendment shall have been
repealed. The liquor question has cut
severely across both the Republican and
Democratic party lines in past years
How long the question will remain
outside of national politics is conun-
drum. A great deal will depend upon
the manner in which America drinks
its liquor after repeal. The drys are
not likely to sit idly by while alcoholic
beverages are consumed by the millions
of gallons, particularly if there is much
intoxication as a result. They will
begin the old game of seeking to win
congressional elections in the hope OF
electing again dry Congress. But
even before that. the drys are expected
to make their stand for prohibition in
the individual States. States which
have been dry by law in the past are
likely in some instances to sweep away
the prohibition barriers while they are
doing away with national prohibition
There will be plenty for both vets and
dryS to fight over without much loss OF
time. even though prohibition may drop
temporarily as a national party issue.
Should drunkenness increase greatly
among the people after repeal of the
eighteenth amendment, and should
there be no diminutiOn of crime but
rather an increase, the dry agitatOrs
will be right On the job once more. The
liquor question, having gotten itself into
politics, is likely to stay there. no matter
what happens to the eighteenth amend
ment.
Tammany. the Democratic organ
iZation which dominates party politics
in Greater New York through its ow1,
power and through its alliances, is
about to begin its mayoralty campaign
offering Mayor O'Brien as its candidate
against former Representative La
Guardia, Republican and former Social
list, the candidate of the fusion which
is out to beat Tammany if it can. II
may be natural to suppose that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who halls from New
York, would take an interest in what
happens to the Democratic organization
in the metropolis And it's safe bet
that he does. But is Mr.. Roosevelt
going to make any move in the interest
Of Tammany at this juncture? Not
likely, according to all reports. And
as a matter CT fact, why should he:
Tammany fought him tooth and toe
n2il whsn he was seeking the Demo
cratic nomination for President, with
John F. Curry, its leader, out in front
Tammany took licking when its idol
former Mayor Jimmie" Walker, was tC
all intents and purposes ousted by Mr.
Roosevelt when he was Governor anc
he heard the charges brought against
Walker. 1t is of interest that every
time Tammany has sought to 60 ur
against Mr.. Roosevelt it has come of
second best. Perhaps in the coming
mayoralty election Tammany will not
need the help of President Roosevelt
1t isn't often that "fusicn" gets any
where in its efforts to down the Tam
many tiger.
x X X
With James Roosevelt, the President.
son, handling Federal patronage il
Massachusetts, over the heads of Sen.
ator Walsh, Gov. Ely and the rest o.
the leading Democrats of the State, the
politicians up there are asking eacf
other if young Roosevelt has designs or
the governorship. Under the State law
however, to be candidate for Governor
a man must have been resident o.
Massachusetts, for seven years prior tt
his candidacy. That it is said, woule
cut the Presidents son out of the gov
ernorship race for another four or fv:
years at least.