Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-06-21
~Extra Dry' %
Bill Meets
Opposition
Fear That Carrying Prohibi.
ton to Extremes May De.
feat Its Own Ends;
Assails Leaders
Beer Measure In Senate
Chicago Tribune-Omaha Bee Leased Wire

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire
Washington, June 20.-The new
Volstead bill, designed to make the
18th amendment alright, appeared
to be blocked today by an array oi
opposition composed largely oi
dry" congressional leaders, who
are fearful that prohibition enforce.
ment if carried to extremes, may de-
feat its own ends.
The bill not only would prohibit
the prescription of beer as medicine
but would lay down new and drastic
regulations for the use of industrial
alcohol. Representative Volstead
of Minnesota, its author, wants the
house rules committee to declare il
an emergency measure and railroad
it through the house "as quickly as
possible" subject to no amendment
and only two hours debate. Pros
poets are that the committee will
not heed his request.
To meet this situation, Senator
Willis of Ohio. republican, intro
duced bill in the senate practically
limited to the prohibition of beer
prescriptions. He stated that he did
not expect much opposition to a bill
of such restricted scope. His pur-
pose was simply to prevent the wide
spread use of beer as medicine, while
the house argued out the question:
of further tightening up the pro-
hibition laws, he explained.
Wheeler Attacks Clyne.
Testifying today before the house
rules committee, Wayne B. Wheeler,
spokesman for the anti-saloon
league, complained bitterly of the
difficulties of enforcing prohibition
in Chicago. . .
District Attorney Clyne couldn't
be driven by 40 bloodhounds to start
prohibition case" said Wheeler.
Nevertheless, we have been able to
keep Chicago from being soaked
with liquor through the courageous
action of Attorney General Brund-
age, who has gone into the federal
courts and prosecuted the cases."
Despite the fact that the rules
committee was composed almost en-
tirely of "drys" there was an under
current of resentment among the
members at the tactics employed by
the prohibitionists who are demand
ing the immediate passage of the
Volstead bill. At the conclusion of
the hearing, Chairman Campbell of
Kansas, himself stalwart "dry."
took. occasion to reply to threats
from prohibition headquarters to de-
feat him unless he contributed his
influences to hurried passage of the
legislation.
Il wish to say that / do not take
kindly to criticism Of this sort, from
men of this sort, who have been
making a business of prohibition"
said Mr.. Campbell. II have no fear
of such. threats, coming as they do
from men who are being paid to
lobby before congress on the pro-
hibition question"
Rebukes Freely Made.
Other members of the committee
joined in rebuking the zeal of the
prohibitionists.
Representative Fess of Ohio, chair
man of the congressional campaign
command, always counted as "dry"
leader, said:
81 am little worried that we are
going too far. | am afraid we are
putting too many restrictions on
legitimate business. y.
Another strong prohibitionist, Rep
resentative Pou of North Carolina,
said: There is a feeling throughout
the country that the provisions OF
the Volstead act are little severe
and should not be made more severe.
People. are getting tired of congress
writing so many dor,'ts on the statute
books"
Flaws in the VoIstead bill were
found by Alfred Van Buren, former
chief counsel of the prohibition en-
forcement bureau of the Treasury
department.
Mr.. Van Buren pointed out that
the new bill would change the regu-
lations which allow doctor to pre-
scribe pint of whisky every 10
days for internal use. He explained
that it would allow one-half pint of
alcohol for both external and internal
use. This. he said, would be seri-
Gus handicap and complication to
u1aov dortore who recommend al