The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-26
DRYS RALLY ON EVE
OF ALBANY HEARING
Anderson Launches Bitter On
slaught Against Brewers
for melting Rebellion.
PRIEST FOR PROHIBITION
Senator Thompson Sees Only
an Excuse to Nullify Law
in Beer Arguments.
Special Despatch to Tnr SOY.


ALBANY, Feb. 25.-Charges that Ger
man brewers in America who were pro-
German during the world war are now
melting to riot and rebellion and are
willing to Jeopardize the American ma
ton in order to save beer" were made
tonight by William II. Anderson. State
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League, in an address to the convention
Of that organization which rs in session
In Albany on the eve of the big hearing
on prohibition enforcement legislation
tomorrow before the Senate and AS
semby Judiciary committees.
Other prominent speakers attacked
those who are trying to get the Legis-
lature to pass bills permitting the con-
,inued sale OF light wines and beer.
There were three session to-day and
there will be another tomorrow morn
Ing. In the afternoon those who have
been at the convention will attend the
hearing In the Assembly chamber.
Virtually the whole of the anti-liquor
fight will be gone over again at this
hearing at which all Of the old oppo-
nents OF prohibition are scheduled to
appear, including Lemuel Eli Quigg and
various representatives Of the brewers
and the saloon interests
To-morrows session of the convention
will be featured by the formal launch
ing OF what Is to be called the "Citizens
League Of New York State" to be COM
posed OF residents of the various dis
trcts who are interested in seeing the
prohibition laws are enforced. Homer
Hemstreet OF Gloversville announced to
the convention to-day that the Citizens
League of that city. of which he Is
president, already has 1000 members.
and that they are prepared to drive out
the booze and expect to have 5000
members before long.
Labor's Attitude Not Understood.
Father ]. ]. Curran. pastor Of ST.
Marys Church of Wilkesbarre, Pa. sent
telegram saying:
at is a matter of regret and chagrin
10 me that some of your trade and labor
unions have assumed an aggressively an
tsgonistc attitude toward prohibition, as
everyday knows and admits that the
drink habit and the saloon evils have
been the most prolific curse of the poor
workman and his home
IT cannot understand how an intel
llgent and conscientious leader of labor
can honestly oppose reform which is
calculated to 90 as much at least for
the day laborer and his family as any
other victory that would give peace and
w c. Mcnamara, special representa-
tive OF the Anti-Saloon League in SYRIA
cuse, said that as a Catholic layman
and a labor union man he deplored the
fact that a few Catholics have given
the impression that their church Is op-
posed to prohibition.
Senator George F. Thompson Of Nj
agara. leader OF the dry forces In the
Senate. declared all this agitation for
the continued sale OF beer and light
wines comes from the saloon men. who
want the Legislature to announce pub
licly that 1t will not support, the prohib!-
ton amendment
Just Seeking an Excuse.
All this is an endeavor to furnish
som" excuse by which the business they
represent. and which produces the easiest
money OF any business which has ever
been legitimatized. shall be permitted to
continue said Senator Thompson
Does anybody think that a mind which
will contemplate a statute authorizing
~ per cent. beer would not go further
and have on the same shelf a little
booze in other forms to be sold to their
friends? They don't care what happens
to the public official who carries out
their desires and 1t Is hard to conceive
the use that can be put to the large
sums Of money which they publicly an
nounce has been set aside for their pres
ent activities"
Mrs. Ella A. Boole. president of the
W {. T. ". OF New York State, said
that IN lrys must clinch their victory
by = campaign of education that the
I4olie may. with a knowledge of the
facts, accept the Eighteenth Amendment
IS a practical measure OF deliverance
from great evil.
The Rev. Howard r. II. Russell
founder of the Anti-Saloon League, a
the convention tonight declared that be
FORE July 4 there will be between 800
and 400 anti-saloon delegates in Wash
ington from foreign lands. They viii
have a three day convention on spread
ing the anti-saloon propaganda into the
Orient and the allied and other coun
tries, Russell said, and then they will
he taken in groups TO the dry State!
and cities of the United States to Sc,
the effect of prohibition.
We owe It to these other countrie!
10 let them share in our new freedom,
declared DIR. Russell.
The Anti-Saloon League founder SAT-
mat the league would make 1t a poin
70 send after the distillers who are saiC
TO be taking their business into Mexico
70 China and other places a full state
me0t If their He said