Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-26
COMPLETE PROHIBITION
IS OPPOSED BY HURLEY
Declares 1t Would Cause Trouble
Among Foreign Element at
Work in Shipyards.
NO TIME FOR EXPERIMENTS
Declares More Risk Attends Pro,i-
bition Than I'm Conscripting Labor.
Employees Both in Wet and Dry
Communities Doing Good Work.
tBy Associated rress. !

wASHINGTON. June 25.-DeclarinG
periments at this time. Chairman Hur-
ley! OF the Shipping Board. to-day OPP
posed absolute prohibition before the
Senate Agricultural Committee
We've got TO put all the smash and
drive we've got into this war" IL"
clared Mr. Hurley. We've got TO fight
hgh, and still! fight with every muscle
straining and put aside noncsscntial o.
perimenting If arc to wiring vic
tory from the Huns"
He said that in his opinion there
would be more risk connected with
prohibition at this time than III tho
CONSUMPTION Of labor. as taking OF
beer away from workmen would be a
practical interference with labor. He
added: Il don't want TO take any
chances"
Mr.. Hurley and other officials ap
peared TO support the statement made
several days ago by Bainbriige Colby
member of the Shipping Board. which
Ice the committee to reopen hearings
Oh the Jones amendment. to the cmcr-
gency agricultural appropriation bill
Mr.. Colby told the committee that to
take light wines and beer FROM the
workinsman would reduce the output OF
American shipyards IS per cent
III merely private interests we're ar
fec,ed." Mr.. Hurley said. Il have no
hesitancy in saying that | would vel
come the prohibition experiment Any
temporary disorganization il might
cause would have its compensation
DECLARES INTERFERING
WITH COUNTRY'S BUSINESS
&c :,
country's business i'm a great war
emergency. with which | am concerned
and am unwilling in this crisis 20
stand sponsor for any experiment with
the personal libcrt. Of nearly half a
,Tiiiion men in the shipyards and con
trihu,ing industries on whom We are
relying 20 put through the biggest
program in the history Of this or any
other nation.
II any ono tried to tell me tina,
men worked better with the stimulus
provided by liquor. | would simply cite
him the cases OF the shipyards in ore
gon and Washington, where the en-
ployees without such stlmulants are
doing good work II the argument
were made that the workmen In A Wet
district turned out steel ship in
twcnty-seven days. that because Of this
II might he we'll to give light wines
and beer 20 the workmcn in oregon a nd
Washington, would brush such an
argument away as the offspring OF
folly.
Il would oppose an experiment OF
that Kind in Oregon and Washington
Just as earnestly as oppose the cx-
pertinent tina, is proposed. Fortunate,
ly. in the two States l have mentioned
the sentiment OF the workmen Was
prepared by A long election contest in
which the workr1er had an opportunity
TO vote on the question. However. they
may have voted. there Was at least the
quality OF craftsmanship in abiding by
tme result
"All the States are now taking wha,
virtually amounts 10 d referendum on
the constitutional amendment. which is
pending before she Legislatures
II STATES FAVOR DRY PROGRAM
THERE WILL nE No ILL FEELING.
III the States act tavorably upon II,
the workmen can have no feeling that
there has been Il Lack Of fair play
The result, sought by the proposal be
fore the Senate Committee then will
he achieved gradually, and with am
pie notice for the accommodation OF
habits and tcmpcraments.
TO my mind. there is more risk in
the proposal than there would be in
the CONSUMPTION of labor. because i, Is Il
partial interference with liberty with
out any increase OF control | have
opposed the CONSUMPTION OF labor be.
cause | have fci, that we should. so
long as it may be possible. rely upon the
voluntary and patriotic corporation o.
American labor.
r,Sr-,,,,,i,,,. /,
selfish interests. thinking only OF pri-
va;e gain. may seek to use the views
of conscientious officials solely for their
own purposes That is one OF the Dcn-
alties We must pay for frankness in AN
issue which has only one moral side.
But II the committee were fully aware
OF the pains we have taken 10 produce
the right spirit and complete unity in
the Shipyards--if the committee were
fully aware OF the advantage the ma
ton derives from such unity and single.
ness OF purpose, ! believe the members
would refrain from reporting meas
ure which will lead TO contention.
SAYS WOULD CREATE
TROUBLE AMONG FOREIGNERS
The sudden taking away Of light
wines and beer from the foreign clio
ment in the yards, OF which there is =,
very large proportion, Will. fear. have
wrenchinG effect on the whole pro-
gram. II will set men to talking of
the wisdom OF such a move: it will
puzzle thousands OF temperate foreign
crs who are accustomed merely TO a
glass OF beer or glass Of wine with
tasr meals.
None of the shipyards are able to
tolerate employees who overindulgc IN
stimulants Such men are eliminated
automatically The chief effect then
will be to call a sudden halt upon a
part OF the daily routine of hard work
ing and sober men. One of the great
est diffculties we have had to COM
bat was the constan- turnover of labor
We have been improving that situation
gradually, and we are frankly worried
lest this proposed experiment may