Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-25
Hurley Opposes
DRY Amendment
Continued from PAGE One

hrmities, to stir up new antaEonisms,
to try experiments. No nation engaged
IN this world war, either ally or enemy,
mas attempted such an experiment. The
German Government, monstrous in it's
cold, unfeeling and cruel precision, liz.
noring the individual except as a part
of its military science, has not made tne
experiment; nor has England. fighting
for its freedom. nor France, fighting for
its very living.
Nations Destiny at stake
Nor can we, gentlemen, afford to ex-
pertinent with nations destiny. We
have had our backs TO the wall and
only now are beginning to give blow
for blow. The German submarines set
out to blow our small merchant feet
out of the seas. Responding to the ma
tion's call for ships. the workmen in
the yards. have been breaking all the
records of the world in shipbu!ldins
The men are filed with enthusiasm.
They will, this year. more than treble
the output of last year. which was the
banner year of our history. We know
what is happening now, and, to put It
frankly and simply, we do not know
what would happen under the proposed
experiment. We feel that the world OF
the moment IL too important for the
diversion of any energy into an investi-
CATION or controversy over the frailties
of human nature. We've got to put
all the smash and drive we've got into
this war, We've got to fight, fight and
still fight, with every muscle straining.
and put aside nonessentjal experiment.
ing. II we are to wiring victory from the
Huns"
Burleson Also an Opponent
Postmaster General Burleson followed
Mr. Hurley before the committee and
opposed wartime prohibition on the
ground that il would become a political
issue and disturb the public mind. di-
verting attention from the work of VIM
ming the war.
THE great bulk Of the men in ship
yards are capable and Trustworthy" said
Daniels. "In every case where prohi-
bition has been adopted the change has
resulted in increased efficiency.
Newport, r. l., and Mare Island.
Cal, are two OF the places where a
great improvement has been brought
about.
MANY protested the Mare Island rul-
ing at the time. There are few opposed
today. A destroyer was recently
launched there in record time.
AT Newport conditions were so de-
plorable that it would have been a crime
to have permitted them to continue.
1t is mistake to think men in the
yards would lessen work becaISe of pro-
hibiton.
when Congress says 100000 men in
the army and more than 100000 in
the navy shall be denied liquor | do
not think you are encroaching on the
right of citizens to make the same rul-
ing,
I'VE ought not use one bushel os
wheat except to aid in winning the war.
We ought not to use single man ex-
help win the war"
Daniels said he believed the workers
in the shipyards to be as patriotic as
the men in the service and quite as
willing to make any sacrifice for the
good of the country
prohibition in the navy was opposed
by number of officers when II was
adopted. but very few would go back to
the old rule" he declared.
! Administration Divided
The Administration split wide open on
the question. and gave Congress d.
vided counsel.
Postmaster General Burleson Joined
forces with Chairman Hurley, Of the
shipping board, In urging the defeat
of the amepdment. while Secretary Of
the Navy Daniels, in the most emphatic
language, testified to the excellent ef-
feet of prohibition in the navy and In
navy shipyards.
Bainbridge Colby. member of the
shipping board. recalled to the stand,
reiterated his statement OF last week.
10 the effect that prohibition would Grip
pie the shipping program.
samuel Gompers. of the American
Federation Of Labor, voiced the protest
Of the working men AGAINST the enact
nent OF b9ne-dry p5ohib'tion