U.S. SENTIMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 8

U.S. SENTIMENT

PROHIBITIONISTS PUSH CAMPAIGN . FULL-PAGE “ADS” WASHINGTON, Sept, 21. Accumulating evidence of changing public sentiment toward dry laws has aroused American prohibition leaders to tho need of fresh effort. All show of cooperating in enforcement of tho federal law has been openly abandoned by a number of States. States formerly under the thumb of organised dry politicians gave majorities in the last congressional elections to wet candidates. Two years ago Senator McNary ot Oregon would not have thought of advocating any change in the liquor laws; Oregon was then listed by political observers as a hard-and-fast dry State; but recently McNary hinted that some amending of the laws might be desirable. The change is a sign of tho times. Other senators and congressmen, rated not long ago as dominated by the Anti-Saloon League, have been displaying independence. They are questioning the 100 per cent, merit of the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act as they stand. One does not suggest that American liquor legislation is in any danger of early revision, amendment or abrogation. What may safely be said is that anti-saloon forces are not the feared political power that made candidates kowtow to them five and 10 years ago. In not so large a way the Anti-Saloon League has suffered the fate of the American Ku Klux Klan. Citizens who are quite willing! to be led in prescribed directions rebel against being told they have to go in those directions. The arrogance of prohibition leaders lias been at the expense of prohibition influence. DRYS RAISE £140,000 Prohibition interests themselves seem to have -awakened to this. They have created a new organisation. The Allied Forces for Prohibition intend to take hold of the situation, and to act in the same manner as the old political parties. Rich agencies and individuals stand back of the new group. For a nine-months-’ campaign it has budgeted for a minimum of £86,200, with anadded contingent budget of £42,000. Page advertisements in newspapers and broadcasting on a national scale are twe instruments to be employed. Tlie association intends to file quarterly statements of receipts as required of political parties by the Federal Corrupt Practices Act. This new, vigorous and endowed body plans to take up a torch that has 'been recently held by bands less effective than in the past. It is confident that the majority of Americans is still dry, bill- seems to fear for the fortunes of the dl-y cause if left with the old crowd. Politics is quickening, as well, in tho ranks of the regular parties. Republicans have their candidate in President Hoover, but are manifestly in distress about conditions and policies. To general depression, unemployment and farm distress,, is now added the prospect of additional taxes. Notwithstanding ti e outlook for a deficit of a billion and a half dollars, President Hoover is not ready to admit that higher taxation will be required. He is hoping against hope that something may happen to make unnecessary a higher tax decision. Not all his lieutenants are oven so faintly optimistic.—Special Correspondent of Province, Vancouver.