New-York tribune., 1908-02-12
TILT OYER PROHIBITION.
Mr. LttlefeM and Theodore Sutro
Argue Before Judiciary Committee.

wasb;ngton Feb 1.-THE anti-Prohioiton's's
had their innings to-day, when REPRESENTATIVES, -
the National German American Alliance appeaie"
before the House Committe on Judiciary 10 op-
pose in general the sixteen bills introduced 81 tl
session for the suppression of the liquor talhc'
and In particular the Littlefeld BILL proposihe -
erai aid in the enforcement OF local opuoh eA0ia
laws THOSE who spoke against the bills were T.
wiIdermrth of Philadelphia, counsel 10 the
pannsv,ran,a branch of the alliance; Ernest l.
Stahl of the New Jersey 'Staats Journal VICE
president of the alliance. and Theodore outro' VI
New York president of the New YORK orahch anu
former Commissioner of Taxes.
A running exchange of thrusts between MI
sutro and Representative Littlefed. who is a
member of the JudiciaV Committee, enlVeneo ,he
hearing and gave alternate comfort TO 'he aliies :
OF each. Among those in attendance were SoFoi"
members of the Wo.nan's Christian temperance
I-nion and half a dozen clergymen from as many
cities -
Mr sutro assumed the familiar ground, that
Won cannot legisate morality into the people ana
made the assertion that Maine, Mr.. Littieheid 5
state exemplified in great measure the souho-
ness of the claim that prohibition does not pro-
hihit'
Then said Mr. Littlefeld ''do I understand
your argument be that morality cannot De III
culcated into the people by legislation? DO you
stand on that? Answer me directly. please
Il stand on that, yes, said Mr.. Sutro but
want my meaning understood by this commit
tee. r
In other words he wants to fix loophole 10
crawl cut Of" suggested voice.
NO" cried Mr.. Sutro. he doesn't But 90
not propose TO be misunderstood and taken au-
vantage o. What / stand is this: the only way
70 make temperate men and women is to teach
them moderation as they grow up from boyhooo
and sirlhood, and the only genuine constitutional
way to keep them temperate when they nave
grown UP. if they not strong enough OF 'heih-
selves to be moderate, is to make overlnoulsehce
-drunkenness-a crime m1sdemeanor. aho lidI
is the province Of the state not Of the centraI gov
ernment If the law can say to a man, lhou
shalt take sip of wine or beer, or Whlskey
or brandy it by the same authority say 10
him Thou shalt not take mouthful OF nlnce
pie and a tumbler of water Gentlemen or the
committee overindulgence in intoxicants is not
the only excess conducive 10 crime In this country.
/ give IT as my firm belief that many murders
have been committed by dyspeptics made dyspep-
tic by too much mince pie and ice water as by
men infiamed to violence by strong drink
When the laughter had subsided Mr.. Sutro, re-
turning the philosophy that prohibition does not
prohibit. delivered this inquiry
IF prohibition is effective. why not so long ago,
were many members OF this honorable House of
Representatives in the habit of going downstairs
into the House restaurant and calling for a cup
of tea, with a large wink in the left eye, and
being served with strong waters? I Will ask the
gentleman from Maine. Mr. Lttleield to answer y
Again when the laughter had subsidized Mr.. Lit
tlefield said: Ask the other members of the COM
mittee that 1t before my time
The committee had not reached conclusion on
any of the prohibition bills.