Prohibition Split

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 139, 15 June 1932, Page 7

Prohibition Split

AMERICAN REPUBLICANS WHIRLPOOL OF DISSENSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright/ CHICAGO, June 13. The swiftly rising whirlpool of Republican dissension over prohibition engulfed the chosen representatives ol the party to-day 011 the eve of their national convention to-morrow. They were ready to re-nominate Dlr. Hoovei and sentiment was turning definitely to Vice-President Curtis for his run ning mate. All the lesser disputes over platform and procedure seemed to be beaded for a harmonious decision, but no one any longer expected harmony on prohibition. The predic lion of a plank acceptable to all of the United States had gone up iu the smoke of the most furious platform battle any Republican Convention has seen since the League of Nations dispute in 1920.

Haggard and plainly discouraged after many hojirs of conference, the high commanders of the party continued their efforts to reach a com promise while the indignant “drys” and insistent “wets” hammered at the doors.

The wrangle over the Prohibition issue at the Republican Party Convention is partly duo to a desire to anticipate the Democratic decision on the matter and leave the rival party with nothing to put before the electors in the way of an election plank on the question. But even more the strife is due to a real split among the Republicans. For some time past there has been discussion of the possible adoption of at least a plank pledging a referendum on tho issue, and while some party members would like to go still further it seems to bo conceded that promise of a referendum is all that is politically wise and tho utmost that tho Democrats themselves will concede. This despite the fact that Mcsssr Al. Smith and John L. Raskob are seeking to make tho Democratic Party an but and out repeal organisation, contending that the issue is as important economically as any other issue, and is also the most vital of all. The recent victory of a Wet Democrat over a Dry Republican in the Fifth New Jersey District had groat effect in the Republican ranks. This effect was not confined to the Prohibition issue, for the Democrat, had based his campaign on the failure of the Hoover Administration, and the result of the vote made that Administration that some major step was needed to retain public support. Republican hopes of Hoover’s re-election now centre round his attitude towards the Prohibition issue. The tremendous unpopularity of Hoover’s Dry stand in the great Wet and indispensable Eastern and Middle Western States has convinced party managers that this attitude must be changed. r lhc regular Republicans have shown an embarrassing habit of choosing uninstructed delegates to the Convention. These delegations—in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey—will one else for them to support. But they are likely to prove troublesome at the Convention and to stand out for drastic changes in campaign por icy. Tho convention, of course, is one cog in the machine created by American, party politics for the purpose of winning an election and it will seek to trim its policy to the public, desires as it conceives them- The States which have not chosen to instruct, their delegations have thus revealed unmistakable distaste for a dry leader, and that significant move foreshadows a change in the platform plank on Prohibition.

Recent reports from the United Slates indicate that tho pressure on Hoover has been, redoubled in the direction of placing a referendum plank in his platform. While tho Dr?’ Republicans have been declaring that “a way will be found” to prevent the wets from making trouble they have apparently not been really hopeful. Should the expected happen and/the Democrats pick a candidate who *s for straight-out repeal, though his platform "will not go that far, it is probable that it will bo sufficient to send the prohibition vote to Hoover. One thing certain, however, is that Mr. Hoover himself will not, be driven to an expression of opinion on the issue.