Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-06
Mr.. HOOVER IS OPPOSED
TO MORE PROHIBITION
Brandy" Basis Would Not
BE Wise.
PRESIDENT KEEPS HANDS OFF
Little Grain Now Being Used in Pro-
ducti0n OF Alcoholic Liquors.
Congress Will Not Enact Dry
Laws.
IRy Associated rress.l

WASHINGTON. June 5.-Admlnistra-
tion opposition TO any attempt TO stop
the manufacture of beer and wine so
long as the sale of whisky Is per-
miied was made certain to-day with
the announcement that Food Admins
TRAITOR Hoover opposed such step
because he believed the evils attend
ant upon putting the nation on a
whisky. brandy and gin" basis would
far outweigh the small fooc savings
that would result
President Wilson already had stated
in letter to Senator Sheppard. OF
Texas. prohibition cham pion and Dem
ocratic member OF the Agriculture Com
mittee that he would net use his power
TO prohibit the use of foodstuns in
beer and wine unless Mr.. Hoover re-
Garded such 4 step necessary to the
feeding of this country and the allies
After the position of the President
and the food administrator had been
made known. Senator Sheppard and
other Senators said the Senate would
strike from tho Sll.Oouo0c emergency
agricultural bill House amendment
prohibiting the use of some $4,000 COO
carried by TIE measure unless manu-
facture OF wine and beer was stopped
by the Pr esident.
Senator Smith. of South Carolina.
chairman of the Agriculture Commit.
Tee, upon his return 10 Washingtop
Tonight. said he was inclined to op-
pose the amendment because n very
small proportion of grain is being used
IN the production of alcoholic liquors
Sihce the d!st1iing of whisky was stop
ped last September. Senator Smith
said efforts would be made to have.
MS committee take up the bill with
out delay
Mr. Hoover explained his position in
s,atsment made public tonight along
win MS letter to Senator Sheppard.
He said that If 'the America, peo-
pie want prohibition it should nrotihi.
by legislation 10 that end and not fore.
the food adm inistration to the reenon
sioiilty for an orgy OF drunkenness"
AS to the discussion over tho .r,,
preston OF brewing" said Mr.. Hooyer,s
statement. upplemcnting his letter -
senator sheppard. II wish to say en-
practically that from a strictly foos
conservation point of view | should
- ''NN '''S hSc oi iOOUStuHS SUD-
pressed in all drinks. hard and soft
This is not, however. the whole
story. We stopped distilling a wear
AGO. There is a long supply OF whisky
gin and other 20 per cent TO 40 per
cent distilled drinks in the country.
We have reduced the consumption OF
'"e dstuffs in brewing so per cent and
reduced the alcoholic content Of beer
10 "a per cent If we stop brew
ing the saloons Of the country will
stiil be open. but confined practically
10 whisky and gin basis. Any true
advocate OF temperance and Of ma
tonal efficiency in these times will
shrink from this situation. for the
national danger in it is greater than
TIC use Of some 100000 bushels OF
srai monthly in the brcwcries
Il. the American people want pro-
hibit'on 1t should prohibit by lcgisla
ton to that end and not force the food
administration to the responsibility for
any orgy of drunkenness. 1t is mighty
difficult TO get drunk on . IA per cen,
beer; it will be easy enough If w.
force n substitution Of distilled drinks
for it,"