Evening star., 1918-06-25
Head of Shipping Board Says
Nation Cannot Afford Ex.
periments During War.
IS AGAINST AMENDMENT
TO AGRICULTURAL BILL
Witness at Hearing Before Senate
Committee-Banker Says Fl
nancial Catastrophe May
Follow Enactment.

Declaring the nation cannot afford
to conduct experiments at this time,
Chairman Hurley of the shipping
board today opposed absolute prohibi-
ton before the Senate agricultural
committee.
We've got to put all the smash and
drive we've got into this war;" de-
clared Mr.. Hurley. We've got to
| fight. fight and still fight with every
muscle straining. and put aside nom
essential experimenting IL 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 q
practical interference with labor. He
| added: II don't want to take any
| chances"
Banker Foresees Catastrophe.
Percy H. Johnston. vice president
of the Chemical National Bank Of
New York. speaking for a committee
Of bankers from the principal cities.
| told the committee an absolute pro-
hibition amendment forbidding the
withdrawal Of spirits from bond
would result in a financial catas-
| trophe, throwing many banks and
| thousands of firms into bankruptcy.
Mr.. Hurley and other ofticizls ap-
peared to support the statement made
several days ago by Bainbridge Colby.
I 4<t~
led the committee to reopen hearings
on the Jones prohibition amendment
| to the emergency agricultural appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Colby told the COM
mittee that to take light wines and
beer from the workingman would re-
duce the output of American shipyards
IS per cent.
Affects Public Business.
"If merely private interests were
affected" Mr.. Hurley said. II have no
hesitancy in saying that / would well
| come the prohibition experiment. Any
temporary disorganization it might
| cause would have its compensation.
1T is not private business. but the
| countrys business in a great war
emergency, with which am concern
ed, and l am unwilling in this crisis
to stand sponsor for any experiment
with the personal liberty of nearly
half q million men in the shipyards
and contributing industries. on whom
we are relying to put through tho
biggest shipping program in the his
tory of this or any other nation.
"If any one tried to tell me that men
worked better with the stimulus pro-
vided by liquor I would simply cite
him the cases of the shipyards in
Oregon and Washington, where the
employees, without such stimulants,
are doing good work. If the argu-
ment were made that the workmen in
a wet district turned out steel ship
in twenty-seven days, and that De-
cause of this 1T might be wen to give
light wines and beer to the work
men in Oregon and Washington.
would brush such an argument away
as the offspring Of folly.
Difference in Conditions.
IT would oppose an experiment OF
that kind in Oregon and Washington
Just as earnestly as I oppose the ex-
pertinent that is proposed. Fortunate
" in the two states I have men,
toned, the sentiment of the workmen
was prepared by a long election con-
test, in which the workmen had an
opportunity to vote on the question.
However they may have voted. there
was at least the quality of sports
manship in abiding by the result. All
the states are now taking what vir-
tually amounts to q referendum on
the constitutional amendment which
is pending before the legislatures.
IF the states act favorably upon 1t,
the vorkmen can have no feeling that
there has been a lack Of fair play. The
result sought by the proposal before
the Senate committee then viii be
achieved gradually, and with ample
notice for the accommodation OF
habits and temperaments.
ITO my mind there is more fisk IN
this proposal than there would be in
the conscription of labor. because 1t 10
a partial Interference with liberty.
without any increase OF controI.
have opposed the conscription OF labor
because 1 have felt that we should. so
long as it may be possible. rely upon
the voluntary and patriotic co-opera-
ton of American labor.
|. Would Retain Spirit in Yards.
.I realize that unscrupulous and sell
fish interests, thinking only OF private
gain, may seek to use the views OF
conscientious officials solely for their
own purposes. That is one of the PEN
alties we must pay for frankness IN
an issue which has only one moral
side. But If the committee were fuliy
aware of the pains we have taken to
nroduce the right spirit and complete
unity in the ship yards-if the COM
mittee were fully aware OF the adVan-
tage the nation derives from such
unity and SlngleneSS Oh puTpose-i oo-
lieye the members would refrain from
reporting a measure which will lead
to contention.
wines and beer from the foreign element
in the yards, Of which there Is very
large proportion. will, / fear. have
Wrenching effect on the whole program
II will set men to talking Of the wisdom
of such a move; it will puzzle thousands
Of temperate foreigners. who are ae-
customed merely to glass OF beer or .
class of wine with their meals.
No overindu1gence Now Tolerated.
'None Of the shipyards is able to
tolerate employees who overindulge in
Such men are eliminated
automatically. The chief effect then will
he to call sudden halt upon a part Of
the daily routine of hard-working and
sober men. One Of the greatest difficult
ties we have had to combat was the con-
slant turnover of labor. We have been
that situation gradually and
we are frankly worried lest this pro-,
posed experiment may cause additional