New-York tribune., 1921-06-29
Senators Open
Fight to Beat
Anti-Beer Bill
Broussard Begins Attack on
Willis-Campbell Measure
as 1t Is Referred to
the Judiciary Committee
Passage by July 4 Seen
Chairman Sterling Asserts
Legislation VIII Receive
Favorable Action Soon
From TIE Trioane's wasAinetos Bureau

WASHINGTON, June 2s.--war on
the Wiilis-Campbell prohibition en-
forcement bill, known as the "beer
emergency BILL" began in the Senate
to-day. The bill, which passed the
Mouse yesterday, was sent to the Sem
ate this afternoon and referred to the
Judiciary Committee. 1t had scarcely
reached the Senate when the opening
gun was fired at it by Senator Brous-
sard, of Louisiana.
through, but the indications are it will
stir up a hot discussion and perhaps
result in some delay. In the end it
will be passed, it is expected.
Senator Sterling, chairman Of the
Judiciary Committee, said the bill will
be sent to President Harding before
July a.
Senator Broussard assailed both the
Volstead bill, recently reported to the
House, and the Willis Campbell bill. He
said:
"rn the House Mr.. volstead intro
y
terday called the Volstead Act jr.
This proposed amendment violates
every principle upon which our govern
ment was founded. The amendments
proposed by Mr.. Volstead not only in
terfere with the physician and the peo-
pie who are sick but go much further
than that. They place in the hands of
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
and the enforcement officials the dstri-
button of alcohol for scientific purposes
and for industrial purposes.
Sees More Disrespect for Law
when the amendment was proposed
and hearings were held during this
month it stirred up the American Asso-
station of Chemists to such an extent
that they sent representatives before
the House Judiciary Committee and
they pointed out that it was an inter-
ference with national development,
with the industries of the country, and
that its adoption would be the greatest
calamity that could befall the Ameri-
can people"
Il dare say" added Senator Brous-
sard, that the provisions which are
proposed under the amendment to the
Volstead act will bring about more dis
satisfaction, bring about more discon-
tent, bring about more contempt and
disrespect for the law than any one of
the causes which have been discussed
on the floor Of the Senate.
THE measure which Is now before
the Senate is merely forerunner of
the Volstead act junior which is to fol-
low it,"
Senator Broussard, after assailing
the Eighteenth Amendment, referred to
the controversy between the Anti-Saloon
League and DIR. E. c. Dinwiddie.
And what is the crime for which
the Anti-Saloon League denounced Mr..
Dinwiddie ?" asked the Senator. "His
Americanism would not permit him to
interfere with the respectable physi-
clans and consent to destroy American
industry. He opposed the volstead
amendment now before the House.
Assails Dry Advocates
Enthusiastic advocates of prohibi-
tion,' added Senator Broussard, upon
the adoption of the Eighteenth Amend
ment held funeral services over the
supposed dead corpse of John Barley
corn. Since then their periodicals and
newspapers continuously remind US
that booze. is dead They want to
hypnotic the people. But if booze is
dead why do they want millions to en-
force this law and take up the valuable
time of the Congress to enact laws
against the dead-as they contend?
"The Attorney General on March g."
continued Senator Broussard, "said
that the national prohibition act per-
mits doctors to prescribe beer. If that
is fact, then why has the enforce
ment department denied the people
their right? We are being governed
by clique of arbitrary hypocrites who
have no respect for the laws which
they themselves enacted"
Senator Broussard introduced bill,
similar to that introduced by Repre-
sentative Kindred in the House, to lib
eralize the prohibition law. He pro-
tested against the loss of revenue from
prohibition and objected strongly to
the Willis-Campbell bill.