Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-20
DENIES ALL LABOR
FAV0RS BEER-W|NE
E. W. Oyster Calls No-Beer-
No-Work Move German
Propaganda.
DRY LAW IN DISTRICT

Vehement denial that organized Ia
Dor is unanimous, ''or anywhere near
it," in favor of the exemption of beer
and wine from the operation Of war
time prohibition, which becomes ef
fective July 1. was made by E. w.
oyster for more than fifty years
member of the Columbia Topographic
cal Union. before the Senate judiciary
subcommittee considering the bill to
enforce nationwide prohibition. yes
terday afternoon.
Chairman Sterling asked Mr.. Oyster
District of Columbia. He answered
that he believed it had worked we'll.
and that as soon as Baltimore Is cut
off as a source OF supply for the
"bootleggers." the benefit will become
still more apparent.
Called Hun Propaganda.
Mr.. oyster declared that those who
have adopted the "no-beer-no-work"
slogan are working in the interests
of the German brewers: that 1t is all
a part of the Hun propaganda"
working in the dark and following in
the footsteps of the "traitorous Ger
an-American Alliance" which Con-
gress put out of business during the
war. Mr.. oyster continued:
1T is gross instrumentation to
say that organized labor Is unanimous
on this liquor question. Members Of
the trade unions are divided upon 1t,
just as other citizens are"
Mr. Oyster spoke of the situation in
the National Capital. where he esti-
mated there were about $4,000 trades
union members. He said that a pa
rade was planned for the local labor
union members in connection with the
demonstration. At first 1t was to be
lire: then June Il. with $4,000 in line.
In the end. he said, there was no
parade whatever of the local trade
unionists in connection with the dem
onstration. The only parade that took
place was a short march OF some
$500 persons, who came here from
other cities.
THE parade of the local unions was
finally abandoned because the organ
izers of the demonstration were afraid
it would show their weakness, l ex
pect," commented Mr.. Oyster.
Discusses Samuel Gompers.
Chairman Sterling asked Mr.. Oyster
how he regarded the speech made by
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. at the
demonstration. He replied that he
believed Mr.. Gompers was wrong in
connection with the prohibition mat
ter. but that he would loyo1I support
Gompers. and had supported him, in
every effort to better the conditions
of labor. Mr.. Oyster insisted that he
believed thoroughly in the principles
of trade unionism and that this coun-
try could not do without strong trade
unions.
II say this" said Mr.. Oyster, ito
keep the record straight so far as my
stand on trade unionism is concerned"
Medical Stand Told.
Dr. Clarence True Wilson, general
secretary Of the temperance board Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, laid
before the committee a telegram from
the American Medical Association re-
garding the allied Medical Associa-
tion," which recently, he said, had
adopted resolution stating that beer
was necessary from a medicinal stand
point The telegram read:
ALLIED Medical Association not repre-
Mayer, president. born Austria. adver-
tised specializing exclusively in the
cure Of rupture L. Mottefy, secretary
treasurer. apparently chief organizer.
born Hungary, received newspaper pub
licity in connection with anti-vaccina-
ton activities and alleged cure for can
"AMERIcAN MEDICAL Assoc1A-
TON"
At the conclusion Of the hearing
Chairman Sterling announced that the
CT mmittee tomorrow would begin work
on the bill to enforce wartime prohibi
ton and prohibition under the consti-
tutional amendment, which becomes ef
fective next January.