New-York tribune., 1920-03-15
Voters Beseech
Assembly for
Beer and Wine
Men and Women of All
Walks of Life, Including
Clergy, Support Cillett's
Liberal Enforcement Bill
Ex-Soldiers Predominate
Many Republicans Assert
They Will Not Vote for
Any Anderson Supporter
From. a staa oorrespondent

From Staf Correspondent
ALBANY, March ID. Men and
women in all walks Of life have poured
letters and kilograms In upon Colonel
Ransom H.. Gillett, who represents
Columbia County in the Assembly,
since he introduced his light wine and
beer bill.
Many Of the writers are clcrgymen,
and more than half are ex-service men.
Those who state their politics, are as
q rule. like the colonel, Republicans.
These last declare that under no cir
crmstances will they vote in the fall
for Republican who does not stand
Tor liberal Interpretation of the
Eighteenth Amendment, but not q
single writer is for a return of the
saloon.
From the letters which have been
examined at Colonel Gillett's office
here by The Tribune correspondent,
it is evident that the "wet" and "dry"
issue will determine the fate Of many
Of the politically ambitious next No
vember. Not few of the congrars.
latlons which have poured in on the
colonel have been from Republicans
praising him for his determination to
fight. for the passage of his bill re-
Sweet on the question. Colonel Gil
lett declares that he will push his bill
and that it will be dangerous for
Speaker Sweet to get in it's way.
Back Home" Letters Count
Colonel Gillett and the hackers of his
bill have learned that few letters
from back home" have more effect on
influencing a wavering Assemblyman
than anything else. They have started
an active campaign to see that every
member of the Legislature gets lots Of
hQf mr. Of 1otf jaw Il; 1t1~1ok
wine and beer. They have discovered
that the Anti-Saloon League methods
are the real thing when it comes to ac-
celebrating legislation, and are follow
ing them out.
Just as soon as his. bill is printed
Colonel Gillett intends to call con-
ference of all classes of people in an
effort to get the real sentiment on such
legislation. He is satisfied that New
are Solidly back of him, and is now de-
voting his efforts to convincing the up
state legislators that their people want
such bill. He is convinced that they
do, but that their representatives in the
Legislature have been influenced by
we'll organized "dry" propaganda which
IN reality reflects only minority of
their constituents.
Since Speaker Sweet came out and
announced fatty that he is against
light wine and beer some of the up
state legislators who had been with
Gillett are beginning to weaken. The
Speaker is beginning to use on them
some of the pressure which has gained
for him the title of the "little czar"
of the Assembly. Colonel Gillett is con-
fdent that some of these legislators
will hear from some of their constitu-
ents before this fight is through.
1t is significant that many of the let
ters received by Colonel Gillett come
from large employers Of labor, who in
sist that workingmen need beer and
that the prohbitionists went too far
when they took it away. One Of these
letter is from the proprietor of big
mill near Albany employing 1900 hands.
Causes Labor Unrest
eve were promised that if prohibi-
tion were established" he wrote,
"that there would be a panacea for all
our HIS, that NOBODY wou.o come out
with big head on Monday morning
and that a thousand and one other
evils would be corrected. Our expert
ence here is that prohibition has not
made our help any steader. 1t does
create lot of unrest and great many
of ouz help are planning to get work
in Canada. l understand this move
ment is genera throughout the
Eastern and New England States. The
mills in Canada are offering them
other conditions, and they can get
something to drink, which has a great
deal Of weight with people who work
for q living. For years I have felt
prohibitionists were going too far. Il
am an advocate of temperance and
have no use for the corner groggery,
out l do believe that in every city
and town there should be place where
light wine and beer can be purchased
but not drunk on the premises and
that strong liquor could be purchased
under proper government supervision.
and | don't believe that the Govern
inent should try to raise all the reve-
nue. from the sale of spirituous and malt
liquors. A man vino mas never worked
all day in mill, or foundry, or at
other hard laborious work cannot ap-
preclate what a drink of beer means
TO person who has worked there. | h
hope this measure of yours viii be
put through.
~ am Republican to the backbone,
put believe that if Governor Ed
wards OF New Jersey is nominated
Dy the Democrats on an anti-prohibi- |
ton platform he will be elected as sure
as the sun rises. You have heard the
peoples voice in Massachusetts, and
Vermont. They are thoroughly dis
gusted with the Anti-Saloon League
and its methods. We are all getting
tired of letting few zealots and So.
clalists run this country l am send
ing copy of this letter to Speaker
Sweet"
kilograms are pouring into Gillett
every day from American Legion men
and posts, indorsing his bill. promis-
ing aid in his fight. Here are some
Byron Post, New York; Sheepshead
Bay Post. Engineer Post, 1O2. New
Yolk; Hudson Chapter of American
0hcers of the Great War, Captain W. |
Scott Cameron. of New York. wired: |
Ne are all with you"
The Rev. j. L. Smith, rector Of ST
Joseph's Church. Dolgevlle. wrote:
Everybody is making his own beer up
this way. Why not let them do it with
In the law? Anderson hid behind the
pulpit of the Protestant churches and |
tried to interject the religious issue TO
save his face and reputation. We won't
fall for 1t. 1t is q political question:"
Aged Woman Hit by Taxicab
On Broadway Dies in Hospital
Mrs. Charlotte Kutz, seventy-three
years old, was hit by a taxicab about |
6 p. m. yesterday as she crossed
broadway at Fortyfourth Street. She |