Raskob on Cancer

John Jacob Raskob's political credo contains the following article:

"Perhaps Prohibition is a dangerous complication. So is cancer. How silly it would be to disregard the symptoms of cancer! How silly it must be for the Democratic party to disregard the Prohibition issue!"

He harped on this subject at his National Committee's Washington meeting last month (TIME, March 16). And last fortnight he harped again. He sent a 6,000-word message to all National Committee members asking for personal "recommendations and reactions." He said he wanted to clarify ideas for the party's 1932 platform. He called for a tariff of "fair trade," for a farm relief "that will rebound to the benefit of the whole country." He discussed economic competition in terms of tooth paste, shaving cream, automobiles, radios. He demanded a platform "brief--like the Declaration of Independence." But everyone knew, or acted as though, he was really talking only about Prohibition.

Last week the replies came in. It was, of course, plainer than ever how split the Democrats are. Bitterly did the Drys deplore Chairman Raskob's activities as "unwise," "untimely," "dictatorial." They contended that 1932 should be fought out solely on economic issues. Equally loudly the Wets acclaimed Chairman Raskob's "courage . . . sanity . . . leadership."

Because to win the presidential nomination a candidate must have a two-thirds combination of Wet and Dry votes in the convention, supporters of various candidates in their replies counseled patience and moderation in dealing with Prohibition. New York's ambitious Governor Roosevelt has sought to play down his Wetness to win Dry support. Among his supporters is 74-year-old Elisabeth Marbury, New York's prodigious national committeewoman. Her reply reflected the strategy of the Roosevelt boosters:

"The Convention manual stands for information and not for inspiration. I feel that at this time silence is golden. No mantle of Elijah has fallen upon my shoulders. As regards Prohibition, I begin to fear that as a nation we are rapidly losing all sense of proportion. . . . God forbid! Are all virtues, all qualities, all ideals, all ability, forcefulness, statecraft, integrity and record of a candidate to be swept aside by the question: 'Is he Wet or is he Dry?' And yet we are not a primitive people!"

Excerpts from other replies:

Ohio's William A. Julian: John J. Raskob reminds me of the man who rushes into your home and in the presence of your wife, asks "What were you saying to that pretty stenographer I saw you talking to at noon?" . . . The whole thing is absurd. . . . North and South will never become reconciled on the liquor question.

Utah's James H. Moyle: Food, not liquor, is the paramount issue. . . . Time must be given to bring all sections abreast of the best thought on the liquor question.

Kentucky's Joseph E. Robinson: For the party to sponsor the 18th Amendment or its modification would overshadow all other issues and probably defeat our party. . . . There can be no settlement of the Prohibition question. It is a never-ending controversy. I do not favor a declaration.

South Carolina's John G. Richards: There are many great issues before the American people but the whiskey question is not one of them.

North Carolina's Josephus Daniels: No temporary Democratic chairman ever wrote a Democratic platform. If Mr. Raskob insists upon such power, the rank & file have but one message to him: "Pay your debts and get out."

Vermont's Frank H. Duffy: I do not care to make any comment because I do not know what the sentiment of the party in my State is.

Tripper Shouse, Last week Executive Democrat Jouett Shouse was on a speaking trip westward across the continent.

His political methods were more orthodox than Chairman Raskob's: he lambasted the Hoover record, was tactfully mum on Prohibition. At Los Angeles William Gibbs McAdoo was asked to serve as a vice-chairman of a committee to receive Mr. Shouse. He refused because he feared his "acceptance would identify me with a movement with which I find myself wholly out of sympathy."

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