New-York tribune., 1920-03-21
Volstead Isn't Nearly as
Dry' as LnW He Framed
Minnesota Man Admits He Always Took Drink
When He Wanted 1t; Drawing Unpopular Act
Merely Was One of His Jobs as Representative

From The Tribune's Washington Bureuw
WASHINGTON, March 2O.-How does
it feel to be cussed from coast to coast
as rabid and fanatical "dry" when
| really you are "half wet" and it was
merely the fortunes of politics that
caused your name to go on prohibi-
tion law?
Andrew j. volstead, member Of Con-
gress from Minnesota and chairman of
the House Judiciary Committee, was
the one person in the country to an
swer such question, and so it was put
to him. He answered it by telling the
whole sad story. AS author Of the Vol
stead prohibition enforcement law it
was unnecessary to inform Representa-
tive Volstead that gentlemen Of moist
proclivities are cussing him daily. Mr..
Volstead already knew it.
Mr. Volstead is not "dry" after
Bryan's heart He has never endeav-
ored to make grape juice the national
drink, nor to make the nut sundae or
plain lemonade the piece de resistance
of state banquets and family side
boards.
The mildmannered Representative
Volstead, who isn't nearly so ferocious
as the "wets" picture him, actually has
been in a barroom in the past. He
walked right up to the bar and ordered
his glass of beer or toddy, according to
the spirit moving him at the moment.
Mr.. Volstead has even spoken pleas
antly to the barkeeps of other days,
his greetings having, more warmth and
sincerity in them than one-half Of !
per cent.
Drink When He Wanted 1t
BY that it must not be inferred that
Mr.. Volstead has ever been bar fly
or heavy drinker. He was just an aver
age American who took drink when
suaded to take it if he didn't
care you q radical dry?" Mr.. Vol.
stead was asked.
His blue eyes twinkled and he
stroked q dropping mustache before
replying
IF am never knew it," said Vol
stead
"But some of the boys are abusing
you because Of the drastic provisions
of the Volstead act" it was suggested.
II know it," he said, "but it isn't
coming to me. Somebody had to write
the prohibition law to carry out the
constitutional amendment and the job
fell to me.
"You were the legislative goat then 2"
"Mebbe, if you want to put it that
way" replied Mr.. Volstead, smiling
ut is the Volstead law because as
chairman of the Judiciary Committee
it came to me to put it through the
House and to write it,"
Representative Volstead scratched
his chin and seemed inclined to pro-
ceed
"l'll tell you," he continued. "I'm
not as dry as a hundred or more
other members who voted for this
bill: l have never hestated to take
little drink when I wanted it,
never drank much, but I've walked up
to the bar and ordered beer or some
thing on a number Of occasions. But
the sentiment in Congress was dry
1t was quite dry and the law had
to be formed to carry out the spirit
of the constitutional amendment and
the wishes of majority of Congress-"
Not as DRY as His Bill
"Were you as dry as your bill q"
interrupted the interviewer.
81 wouldn't saw so," said Mr.. Vol
stead. II think l am entitled to say
that I was responsible for one or two
OF the concessions that went into the
law. There were some prohibtionists
who would have prohibited the manu-
facture of drinks containing even one
half of l per cent. Somebody sug-
gested to me that something ought to
be done to take care of the beer
situation; that it was going too far to
forbid even a drop Of alcohol I put
in the one-half of l per cent, which