The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-25
HURLEY OPPOSES
PROHIBITION RULE
DURING WARTIME
tcontiuu.d from FIrs. PAsH)

lCOnLiuueo LTOLu ElTB% ESB~J
that to pass prohibition measures II
this time would disturb the entire
nation, and delay the successful
prosecution OF the war.
81 am an old-fashioned Democrat"
said Mr.. Burleson, "but I am one who
keeps pace with progress 1 believe
in personal liberty. / admit I am q
strong antFprohibitionist To have
a successful prosecution OF the war,
which will bring a speedy and sue
cessful end is the q eat objective"
Secretary Daniels TestiAeA
In his testimony before the com
mittee Mr.. Daniels said:
ct am sure that the so-eAlled dry
order will improve the efficiency Of
the navy. The great bulk OF men in
shipyards are sober and effciept
men. They do their work we'll wheth-
er saloons are around or 1t Is dry
territory. I believe there IL an in
creased efficiency n dry territory"
Mr.. Daniels argued that civilians
should be subjected to thu same re-
strictions which are imposed on army
and navy men during the period Of
i war.
I'VE should not use q bushel OF
wheat for any purpose but to help win
the war" said the Secretary. Men
employed IN the manufacture OF alco-
hol are not engaged in the prosecu-
ton Of the war"
A strong statement was made to
the committee at the outset OF the
hearings by Percy n. Johnson, vice
president OF the Chemical National
Bank Of New York, chairman Of the
BankerS Committee on the Jones
49,
$3.50, o0o. 900 in banking credit and
trade indebtedness would be men
| aced and imperilsd II the country
was forced suddenly to a dry state
He made it plain that liquor stocks
! would become vGlueless and the
credit based upon liquor would be
ruined.
Asks Is Months.
without opposing prohibition, In
| fact, saying the bankers would we<
come il, Mr.. Johnson asked the com
mittee to grant at least fifteen months
| time before putting IL into force. He
\ said that when the Sheppard amend
ment was submitted the bankers eX
| pected no further attempts would be
made to legislate until the States had
| acted on the amendment
| Excitement in dry and nti-prohibi
| ton circles today was at a high pitch
when the committee resumed its hear
inEs. The hearings will end tomorrow
! and then the committee will soon act
/ one way or another. The situation is
/ close, although the drys are confident
| Iy predicting they will win
Meantime the committee r. being
/ flooded with kilograms from all sorts
OF quarters for and against wartime
| prohibition. The statement Of MI
| Hurley, as given to the committee
| today. drew the more notice because
at the outset he made it plain that
personally he believed in prohibition
what Hurley said.
Mr.. Hurley said:
Mr.. Chairman. il you and the commit
tee will indulge me, I will read briei
statement which I prepared with a view
to reducing the possibility OF being mis-
understood on an issue OF grave i'm
portance to the morale Of the shipyarc
workers. II merely private interest:
we're affected, have not hesitancy II
saving that l would welcome the prohi
bition experiment. Any temporary dis
| examination IL might cause would have
its compensation.
'It Is not private business, but tbs
country's business in a great war emer
gency, with which ! am concerned, anc
III am unwilling in this crisis to stand
sponsor for any experiment with thS
personal liberty Of nearly half million
men In the shipyards and contributing
industries. on whom We are relying q
put through the biggest shipping pro
gram in the history OF this or any othel
nation.
III anyone tried to tell me tina
men worked better with the stimuli!
provided by liquor, would simply
cite him the cases OF the shipyards il
oregon and Washington where thu
employes. without such stimulants
arc doing good work. II the argumen
were made that the workmen in
vet district turned out a steel shiI
in twenty seven days. and that Oe
cause Of this II might be well to Civ
light wines and beer TO the workmel
in Oregon and Washington. SToul'
brush such an argument away - tn
offspring Of folly.
Voted On Question.
'T would oppose an experiment o
that kind in Oregon and Washington
lust as earnestly as l oppose the eN
neriment that is proposed. Fortunate
w in the two States have mention
ed. the sentiment OF the workmen wa
prepared by a long election contest
in which the workmen had an oppor