The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-08-20

SEEN
HEARD
around the
NATIONAL
CAPITAL
By Carter Fold IL
By Carter Field :

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are not
boasting about one Of their really
important accomplishments - re-
peal of prohibition.
Republicans are not attacking the
administration for perhaps its most
stupid and observation-disclosures
expensive flops-the silver buying
policy which was to correct SO
many things. including the power
of China to buy more American ex-
ports.
These are two OF the phases OF
this presidential campaign which
must be very amusing to any for
eigner.
Prohibition is almost sei-explan-
atory. One angle, however, which
neither the vets surprised be-
cause there was no boasting about
the keeping OF this platform pledge
nor the drys-indignant that it
was kept - have appreciated Is
purely financial It affects another
issue in the campaign, and one
which the Democrats do not wish
to discuss. For repeal OF prohibit
ton has resulted in pouring halt a
billion-five hundred million dollars
"a year more into the federal
treasury as tax revenue.
New Dealers do not want to talk
about this, for it naturally raises
the point what would the deficit be,
and how much would the increase
in our national debt be, il there
had been no repeal7
That, however. is very minor
point in comparison with the real
reason that not one OF the hundred
odd speeches at Philadelphia men
toned the carrying out Of this par
ticular campaign pledge. The real
reason is that the drys are militant
" angry, and to boast about the
accomplishment would irritate
them further. Evidences OF this
have been growing for some time.
Strictly speaking, It is not proper
issue in this campaign. The truth
is that the Republicans at their con-
vention in Chicago four years ago
were just as eager to 60 all the
way wet as were the Democrats.
It took all the pressure Of Hoover
through his patronage controlled
delegates to prevent it. The high
spot in the humor OF that situation
was the Maryland free state del
egation, and the supposedly du
Pont Delaware delegation voting
solidly for the merely moist as
against the wet plank.
They Don't Boast
But there have been indications
for some time that the drys, who
have recovered from the almost
hypnotic state into which they
lapsed after the wet SNOWFALL be.
gan to roll in 1880, have conferred
their bitterness on the Democrat.
for forcing repeal, and that some
OF them may vote Republican thi:
fall for no other reason than K
punish Roosevelt and Farley fol
their drive to obtain ratification Of
the repeal amendment.
This is the real reason the Dem
ocrats are not boasting much abou
the amazing achievement OF forcing
repeal three short years after thu
| dry-controlled-at the time-senatt
lobby committee took such glee il
demonstrating to its own satisfac
ton that every time the vets mad
fight they lost more ground.
Republican speakers are just a
afraid OF the silver issue as thu
Democrats are Of repeal. Withou
exception the Republican leader
| think the whole silver buying polio.
was weird. In fact many Demo
cratic leaders agree with them. Blu
to make political issue OF it Nigh
excite two groups. First, the en
thusiastic silver men, and, second
the inhationists who, while carin
nothing about silver per Sc, locke
on the silver policy as q move |
their direction. !
All of this is highly important i
several small, but important states
which just might become vital
the election is close.
Causes Surprise
| Critics OF the Passamaquoddy t
dial project we're surprised at tn
recent declaration of Presider
Roosevelt to citizens OF Eastpor
Maine, that Quoddy will be CON
pleted." The surprise is occasione
because President Roosevelt hs
admitted several times in the la!
few months that he cannot alb
money to the project until congress
has authorized it.
The point is that no one familis
with the situation on capitol hill b.
lieyes that the President, even
he should be reelected by an owe
whelming majority, will be able
obtain a favorable appropriate
for Quoddy. Or for the Florida shi
canal.
II is as near a certainty as an.
thing can be in politics that Il
Democratic majority in the ne.
house will be sharply white
down. even ii there should be som
, thing approaching the landslide 4
Roosevelt which James A. Earle
L -