The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-11
FIGHT FOR LIQUOR.
Antt-Prohibitionists Heard by House
Committee on judiciary.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE anti-pro-
hibitionists had their innings TO-DAY
while. representatives of the Natlona,
American German alliance appeareu
before the house committee on JuoicIaIs
to oppose in general the 16 bills, intro
duced at this session for the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic and In partiS-
ular the Littlefeld bill proposing Ieo-
eral aid in the enforcement OF the ioc ,ea
option excise laws. Those VINO SDoAe
against the bills were Attorney b. -;
Wi1dermuth of Philadelphia, counSel
of the Pennsylvania branch OF the ain
ance; Ernest c. Stahl of the New Jers
sey Stats Journal, vice president u
the alliance and Attorney TheoooIe
Sutro, of New York, president OF Tue
New York branch, and former commas
sioner of taxes. A running exchange u
thrusts between Mr.. Sutro and Repre-
sentative Littlefield, who Is memoe5
of the judiciary committee, enhven nts
the hearing. Several members OF the
Women's Christian Temperance union
and half dozen clergyrnen from as
many cities were present
Mr.. Sutro assumed the fam1llar
ground that you can not leg1siate NOR no. 3
atty into the people and he flung INTO
Mr.. Littlefelds f1gurative teeth, tne
assertion that Maine, Mr.. Littleheld
state, exemplifed in a great measure
the soundness of the claim that pro-
htbttion does not prohibit r
A~A@SAO@NN~Nt
understand your argument to be tnat
morality can not be inculcated into the
people by legislation? Do you stand on
that? Answer me directly, please.
ST stand on that, yes" said MT. sure;
"but I want my meaning understood
by this committee. L
I'm other words he wants to FIX
loophole to crawl out of, suggested d
voice.
mo" said Mr.. Sutro. "he doesn't.
a 70 IA r11iS1In6eT
stood and taken advantage of. what
I stand on is this; The only way TO
make temperance men and women is
to teach them moderation as rney
grow up from boyhood and girfhooo
and the only genuine, constitutional
way to keep them temperate, when
they have grown up, If they are not
strong enough themselves to be mod
crate, is to make over indulgence
drunkenness-a crime, amiSdemeanor
And that is the province of the state,
not of the central government If the
law can say to man thou shalt not
take O. sip of wine or beer or whisky
or brandy it can by the same author
ity say to him, thou shalt not take
mouthfuI of mince pie and lumber
of Ice water Gentlemen of the
committee over indulgence in intoxi-
cants is not the only excess conducive
to crime in this country. l give 1t as
my firm belief that as many murders
have been committed by dyspeptics
made dyspeptic by too much mlnce
pie and ice water as by men inf1amed
by violence by strong drink"
When the laughter subsidized Mr.
Sutro returning to the philosophy
that prohibition does not prohibit de-
hvered this inquiry: eff prohibition
is effective, why, not so long ago,
were so many members of this hon
orable house DIN the habit of going
down stairs into the house restaurants
and calling for sup of tea with
large wink in the left eye and being
served with strong waters. will ask
the gentleman from Maine to
answer ..5.. 5-eee- rTz-4.s- xes.-
Again when the laughter had sub
sided, Mt Littlefield said: ASK the
other members of the committee that.
1t was before my time"