The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-25
FIGHT PROHIBITION
DURING THE WAR
GREATEST OPPONENT is
HURLEY OF SHIPPING
BOARD.

Washington, June 25.-Testimony
as to the effect of American labor
of total prohibition during the wal
was to be offered the senate agri-
culture committee today when hear
ings were resumed on the ones
amendment to the emergency ag-
ricultural appropriation bill, Chief
among those before the committee
were Charles M. Schwab, director
general of the emergency fleet cor
poration; Edward n. Hurley, ship
ping board, and Bainbridge Colby,
a member of the shipping bo rd
who told the committee last week
that to take beer from the shipyard
employees would reduce their eff
cheney and cut down production of
tonnage Is per cent.
"We Must Smash"
"We've got to put all the smash
and drive we've got into this war, "
declared Mr.. Hurley. "We've got
to fight, fight and still fight with
every muscle straining and put aside
non-essential experimenting if we
are to wiring victory from the Huns" "
He said that in his opinion there
would be more risk connected with
prohibition at this time than in the
conscription of labor, as taking OF
beer away from workmen would be
practical interference with la
Dor. He added, Il don't want to
take any chances"
Mr.. Hurley answering many
questions by prohibition advocates
on the senate committee, said the
chief labor difficulties in ship build
ing had occurred in "dry territory"
1t was brought out that l25, ,265
men are employed at shipyards in
prohibition states and 690,lN III
wet territory.
Mr.. Hurley and other officials
supported the statement made sew
eral days ago by cambridge Colby,
member OF the shipping board,
which led the committee to reopen
hearings on the Jones prohibition
amendment to the emergency ag-
ricultural appropriation bill. Mr..
Colby told the committee that to
take light wines and beer from the
working men would reduce the out
put of American shipyards Is per
cent.
Not Private Business.
If merely private interests were
affected Mr.. Hurley said, Il have
no hesitancy in saying ! would wei
come the prohibition experiment. /
Any temporary disorganization it
might cause would have its COM
pensation"
1T is not private business, but the
country's business in great war
emergency. with which | am con
cerned, and ! am unwilling in this
crisis to stand sponsor for any eX-
pertinent with the personal liberty
OF nearly half a million men in the
shipyards and contributing indus
tries, on whom we are relying to
put on the biggest shipping program
in the history OF this or any other
nation.
All the states are taking now
what virtually amounts to refer
endum on the constitutional amend
ment which is pending before the
legislatures. If these states act fav-
orably upon it the workmen can
have no feeling that there has been
a lack of fair play. The result
sought by the proposal before the
senate committee then will be
achieved gradually and with ample
notice for the accommodation OF .
habits and temperaments.
Is Grave Risk, He Says.
ITO my mind, there is more risk
IN this proposal now than there
would be in the conscription OF la s
oor, because it is a partial inter {
ference with liberty, without any in
,rease of control. | have opposed
he conscription OF labor because |
lave felt that we should, so long as |
I may be possible, rely upon the ,
voluntary and patriotic cooperation a
If American labor {
Percy II. Johnston. vice-president
If the Chemical National Bank OF =
lew York. speaking for a commit I
ee OF bankers from the principal :
titles, told the committee an abso- Z,
ute prohibition amendment forbid
ling the withdrawal OF spirits from ;
,ond would result in a financial ca
astrophe, throwing many banks and
thousands of firms into bankruptcy.
Postmaster General Burleson joir-
d in expressing fear that prohjbi-
ion at this time might interfere with =
,rosecution of the war.
Daniels Is Dry Advocate.
Secretary Daniels appeared to ad- I
ocate prohibition. He said his dry Z
rider in the navy had resulted in l.
increased efficiency and proved its "
alue. III YOU say we must have j!
aloons outside the doors OF the 4
avy yards to increase efficiency of
he workmen,' he added. you can s
ay also it is necessary Also for the
zen in uniform to have liquor +
Organized labor is overwhelming 4
: opposed to absolute prohibition "
nd to bring this question up now !,
IS to throw the apple of discord "a
mong the people OF this country
aid Samuel Gompers, president of Il