New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
Democratic Leaders Seek
Political Advantage in
Campaign to Liberalize
the Volstead Measure
kitchin Leads Movement
First Step To Be Toward
Repeal of the War Time
Dry Law i'm Its Entirety
Neau York Tribune

WASHINGTON, July 9.wArn apparent rr.sr
revulsion against the stringent provi-
sions of the Volstead prohibition en-
forcement bill in the House to-day en-
couraged the vets and depressed the
drys.
Given q respite from discussion Of
the bill through the intervention of
calendar Wednesday,, Democratic lead
ers from the South conceived a plan
whereby they hope to reap some polit-
lcal advantage through a vigorously
enforcement code.
Claude Kitchin, former majority
leader, was busy among his colleagues
attempting to enlist support for new
move. to set aside wartime prohibition
The effort was acknowledged to have
little chance of success, but Mr..
Kitchn emphasized that if it were
supported by large number of Demo-
Gratis in the committee of the whole,
where no record votes can be taken,
there was in it the chance to reap
ating the drys.
Dyer Denies Filibuster
Representative Dyer, of Missouri, a
wet leader, resented charges that he
had led in an attempt to delay the en-
forcement bill by filibustering, and
made motion to dispense with calen-
ing its passage. On the record vote he
demanded, there were 296 noes and 8
ayes. Those who voted with DYER were
drys.
Republican leaders are seeking some
means of heading off the proposed
Democratic foray. To support Demo-
cratic efforts to mitigate prohibition
enforcement, they realized, would be
to play into the hands of their op-
ponents. To oppose them solidly
seemed even less desirable.
Mr.. Kitchin spent some time looking
un precedents. and he indicated that the
first move will be to substitute re-
pealing resolution aimed against the
wartime prohibition act for the first
title of the Volstead enforcement bill,
which deals with war prohibition en-
forcement. There is some doubt that
such a move would be countenanced by
the chair.
If this substitution is declared out
Of order, Democratic leaders will move
to recommit the entire bill, just before
it is ready for, final passage, with in
structions to the Judiciary Committee
to strike out Title l.
81 am dry" Mr.. Kitchin said,
"but the necessity for war prohibition
has passed and l do not see why we
should legislate to enforce it. We
promised the country year ago to
make ready for the dry spell, and 1
think the country should have it."
Are Playing Politics
An Indication of the. political nature
of the effort was seen in Mr.. Kitchin's
statement that he would back no move
to remove war prohibition on beers
and wines, letting it stand against hard
liquors, as suggested by the President.
Such move might have some slim
chance of success, Republicans be-
lieved, but an attempt to do away with
all prohibition until January 16 would
have none. Mr. Kitchin explained that
to single out wine and beer would
enlist the opposition of representatives
from whiskey-producing states.
The Democratic leader told his
friends that no final vote would be
reached on the enforcement bill be-
fore the latter part of next week.
Chairman Volstead of the Judiciary
Committee, had hoped to have the
measure out of the way by Monday
or Tuesday. He saw in Mr., Kitchin's
statement purpose on the part Of
the Democrats to offer and fully dis
cuss many amendments. He believed
that attempts to soften the provisions
of the bill would fail.
The entrance of political considera-
tions into the prohibition situation, it
is said, contains the possibility of
many surprises before the bill is final
ly enacted, and in some quarters pre-
dictions are made that the final line
up on amendments offered by the vets
will be very different from that indi-
Gated in yesterdays test votes, when
the liberals were outnumbered four to
one.