Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-25
HURLEY OPPOSES
BAN ON LIQUOR
Prohibition a Dangerous Experi-
ment Just Now, Shipping Head
Says: Would Cause Panic,
Bankers Declare.
By Associated Press 20 Every Evening"

Washington, June 25. Declaring the
nation cannot afford 70 conduct expert
ments at this time. Chairman Hurley
of the Shipping Board today opposed
absolute prohibition before the Senate
agriculture committee
We've got to put all the smash ard
drive We We got into this war. declared
Mr. Hurley We've got 70 SIGHT,
fjght and still fght with every muscle
stralnlng and cut aside nOn-essential
experimenting.
He SAID that n ms opinion here would
be more risk connected with prohibition
at this time than Ia the CONSUMPTION Of
labor. rs taking OF beer away from work
men would he q practical interference
with labor He added:
Il don want TO take any chances.
Mr. Hurley answering many questions
BY prohibition advocates on the com
mittee, said the chief labor difficulties
IN shipbuilding had occurred on the
"dry" territories. 1t Vas brought out
that l25, ,265 men are employed AZ ship
yards IN prohibition States, ana 300
l57 in wet" territory
Percy II Johnson, we, president OF the
Chemical National Bank OF New York,
speaking for committee OF bankers from
an absolute prohibition amendment for
bidding the withdrawal OF spirits from
bond would result in a emanicial cataS-
trophe, throwing many banks and thouS-
ands of firms INTO bankruptcy.
Postmaster General Burleson joined IN
expressing fear that prohibition at this
time might interfere with prosecution ot
the war He said he was not prepared
to say whether it was necessary to con-
serve food, and suggested the committee
confer with the food administration
MIR Hurley and other officials appeared
to support the statement made several
days ago by Banbridge Colby member
Of the Shipping Board. which led the
committee to reopen hearings on the Jones
prohibition amendment - the kmer-
gency Agricultural bill MIR Colby told
the committee that TO take light wines
and beer from the worklngman would
reduce the output Of American shlpyards
% per cent
Ii merely private interests were Affect
ed, MIR Hurley said, II have 70 hesI-
fancy in saying that | would welcome the
prohibition experiment AEy temporary
disorganizatlon it might cause would
have It's compensation
Mr. Johnston estimated there are
250,0OO, 900 gallons of distilled liquor
valued at S5OO0OO,O00 against which
there is between S2O0,0o0, 900 and $3.50
900, 600 outstandlng Z obligations Bankers
favor prohibition, he said, but they want
to see it brought about without financial
+ loss aud probably fifteen months would
/ be required to do that.
Secretary Daniels appeared 70 advocate
/ prohibition He said his dry order in the
navy had resulted in increased efficiency
and proved its value =" II you say we must
have saloons outside the doors Of the
navy yards to increase efficiency of the
workmen,' he added you can say il is
necessary for the men in uniform to have
liquor.
Organized labor is overwhelmingly
opposed to absolute prohibition and to
bring up the question now is to throw the
/ apple of discord among the people OF the
country" said Samuel Gompers, presi-
| dent OF the American Federation Of Labor.