New-York tribune., 1919-06-15
'Throngs Warned That
Congress Will Not Halt
July l Act, but Presi-
dent May Save Beer
Connpers Pleads
With Committee
Enforcement Will Bring
Idleness and Unrest,
Speakers Tell Crowds
Ne10 York Tribune
WGsht@ 1ton Burcdn

Ne1D YORK Irt6Ur6
WGsht@0ton BprodH
WASHINGTON, June 14,-American
labor voiced its protest against the
enforcement OF wartime prohibition in
. gigantic flag day demonstration on
Che steps of the National Capitol.
Delegates to the American Fedora
zion of Labor convention at Atlantic
City were brought to Washington in a
special train and marched with thou
sands of local trade unionists to the
Capitol. One division Of women and
several hundred soldiers, wearing "No
Aeer-No work" buttons, marched In
Che parade.
Members Of Congress told the labor
representatives assembled on the Capt.
col plaza that there was no hope that
Congress would repeal wartime pro-
hibition. They said labor must look
to the President. They predicted, how
ever, that the President would issue
q proclamation resembling the wartime
prohibition act insofar as It affects
hight wines and beer if the appeal Of
aabor could be brought forcefully to
bis attention.
The crowd cheered the statements
made by some of the days speakers
3hat:
Wartime prohibition cannot be
enforced
It's enforcement would lead to seri-
GUS labor unrest throughout the
country;
Congress in passing the war time
prohibition act and in approving the
constitutional amendment was mis-
representative of the people.
First of Protest Series
The demonstration was the first
meeting of protest against legislation
passed by Congress that has ever been
permitted on the Capitol steps. Sena-
tors and representatives were scattered
through the crowd and listened with
attention, particularly to the address
of Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor.
"Kaiserism and autocracy, political
and industrial, has come to an end
Mr. Gompers said. "We have come
here to-day to protest against sur
render by the government to the au-
at is deplorable that the American
Constitution should have foistod upon
It SO vicious and so unwarrantcd an
amendment as the one that goes into
effect on January 1 next.
81 challenge the moral right of any
one to prescribe by law she morals and
che habits OF the people of the United
States. The Constitution Of the coun-
try is a charter of guaranteed rights,
In which the government is denied the
privilege of interfering in any way
with the rights of the people. Now for
She first time we have as part of the
Constitution an amendment that says
Whou shalt not"
Protests Against System
Mr. Gompers protested against the
eystem which permits men of wealth to
all their cellars with liquor while de-
hying the worker q glass of beer.
He emphasized that organized labor
was in no way the advocate Of CALICO
6olic drinking" He said labor organ
Nations had done more to encourage
temperance among the workers than all
the temperance societies and anti-sa-
boon leagues put together.
There are three classes that are in
temperate, ne added. They are, first,
She wealthy, whose jsded spirits need
the exhibiration of strong drink; sec
pnd, the poor out of work, and, third,
She overworked.
The gathering adopted resolutions
previously adopted by the American
Federation of Labor at Atlantic City,
protesting against the enforcement Of
prohibition of beer and wine after
July i, and asking that the sale Of
beverages containing 2%a per cent
alcohol by weight be permitted under
constitutional prohibition, after Jan. |.
While the mass meeting was pro-
eeeding on the Capitol plaza, Mr..
Gompers, Matthew VOL, and John ]
blaming, duly appointed committee of
the American Federation OF labor m
peared before a special subcommittee
Of the Senate Judiciary Committee
appointed by Chairman Nelson TO re-
eeive them.
i4abor's Position Outlined
mr' Gompers outlined the position
OF the American Federation Of Iaho,
and argued that serious social and Gro.
nomlc consequences would be en+ailed
Dy degree Of prohibition that shn+
out mild beer and light wines. H.
even thought that serious convulsion,
OF the body polite would follow. II,
thought the Russian madness was dr,
in part to the prohibition Of vodka
but he made It clear that he was fo-
temperance and not for intoxicante.
de, therefore, made his appeal q,
the basis that 2A per cent beer wa
not intoxicating and should not. there
fore, be forbidden by act Of Congress-
lie denied that poverty and miser7
were in large measure initially duo t,
drink, but insisted that drinking t,
excess among the working classes wa,
chleny due TO poverty and rnigerv.
Senator Walsh, Of Montana, asket
Ar. Gompers to cite serious social con.
volsions that had been caused in an,
dry state by prohibition, but the lat,
Ger parried by saying that prohjbitio,
did not exist anywhere in fact Sen.
asors Norris and King were inclined
70 take the position that if 2M NO,
cent beer wag not intoxicating il wa,
not within the power of the Congress,
70 say that 1t was and that il wa,
therefore not prohibited by the con
HtafnfiOnAi Law