The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-14
jdRYsae 0kM1lEE
In Opposition la Bills in:yadussdbO
u Congress slaa
LittIefield Of Maine and Sutro OF New
York Lead In the Argument
Claimed That Littlcheld's State
Exemplificd h Fact That Prohih&-
ton Does Not Prohibit.

Washington, Feb 1.-THE anti-pro-
%hibitionists mad theii innings today
when Representatives Of the National
Cerman-American alliance appeared ~
before the house committee ON judd
ciary 10 oppose in general the sixteen
bills introduced at this session for the
suppression Of the liquor traffic and I'm
particular the Httlefield bin oppos nx
federal aid In the enforcement q To-
cal option exercise laws.
Among those who spoke against the
bills was Attorney Theodore Suto oz
New York. president Of the New York
branch OF the alliance and former
commissioner of taxes. "
A running exchange OF thrusts be-p
tween Mr.. Sutro and Representative
Littlefield, who is 4 member OF the
COMMITTEES. enlivened the bearing
Among those In attendance were sev-
eral members of the Women's chris
tan Temperance Union and n nal q
dozen c,ergymen from az many citieR- :
Mr.. Sutro assumed the familiar ground
that cannot legislate morality
into the people" ard he flung into Hr.
Littlefeld's teeth the assertion that
Maine, Mr.. Littlefield-s state. exempli-
fed in a great measure the ~soundness
Of the claim that prohibition does n
prohibit
Then said Mr.. Littlcheld do y
understand your argument To be thai
morality cannot be .nculcated into the
people by legislation. Do you stand On
that? Answer me directly, please"
II stand or that, yes" said Mr.. Sa-
tro, but I want the meaning under
stoOd by this committee.
What I stand on is this: The only
way TO make temperate men and
eE Is to teach them moderation as
they grow up from boyhood and girl
hood, and the only genuine congtip-a
tional way to keep them tempurat9S
when they have grown up, II they are :
not strong enough Of themselves to-
be moderate, is 10 make over nduE.
gence-drunkenness-a crime, Il mis-
denneanor. And that is th0,-
province OF the state, not OF the CEN
trail government. II the law can say q
to a mar Thou shalt not take q SIP,
of wine or beer or whiskey or brandy
it can by the same authority say tnDr.
him thou 5hal not take a u~outhfnI5,
o. mince pie and 4 tumbler OF leo.
""te'' wa
Gentlemen Of the committee, oVeE-
Indulgence in irtoxicants * not ms.
only excess conducive 20 crime Ia this :.
country. I give is as my nrm beliety
that as many murders have been. CONF
mitted by d~yspeptics made ~dyspeptLG,a
by too much mince pie and ice water
as by men infamcd 10 inlGncalE
strong drink"
Mr.. Sutro. returning to the philoso-
ply that prohibition does not prohIb,,
it, delivered this inquiry: ~Tf prohi-
bition is effective, why not 90 long 40
were many members or the house, OF.
representatives In the habit u coins
down stairs IN the house re~stauranfl
and calling for A cup OF tea wfth
large wink in the ler eye. and being
served with strong waters? 7 win ask
the gentleman from Maine. Mr.. Little
field 70 answer"
Again when the laughter had subeid-
ed. Mr. Littlefeld said: Ask the, 9th
er members OF the committee that. IT
was before my time"
The committee has not reached con-
clusfon on any OF the prohibitiou4
bills.