Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-23

rho Rev. DR.. Russell II. Conwell.
.nsi5cnf of Temple University and
Ia,,or of Grace Baptist Church, advo-
pp",os The amendment of the prohibition
.%ondmcnt to "end the present chaos
tbot is breeding contempt for all law
Dr Conwell wants measure that
iii do away with drunkenness. while
interfering as little as possible with per
sonal lbertr.
DR. Conwell takes the stand that no
,sv can be- enforced against the COM
mon conscience Of the majority of the
toople. Conscience, he says. is guided
he understanding, and as the present
law is not understood, it is a failure.
An appeal for opinions from 100 men
monument in the fields OF the theology
md law and in the temperance move
ment has been asked for. As soon as
constructive criticism from these lead
inv thinkers has been obtained Dr.
CCnwe,ls proposal will be given wide
,pread circulation throughout the
country.
The Proposal for q Change
The petition drafted by DR.. Conwell.
IN which is contained his proposal TO
Grange the eighteenth amendment. is as
follows:
Congress should bc urged to submit
70 tho people an amendment to the pro-
hibtion amendment defining accurately
what the people meant when they used
THE word 'manufaCturc' as applied to
natural fermentation what they meant
bv the term Intoxicating liquors what
thev meant by tho word beverage. aud
what they mcaut by the word concur
rent
The wide divergence Of intcGprcta-
tIon now breeds disrcspcct for all law
and may lead to the repeal Of the whole
amendment. unless the people them
selves are again consulted now
Say Present Act Is Failure
Commenting upon the petition yes
trdav. DR.. conwcll said:
II want a measure that will do away
with drunkenness. while interfering as
little NJ possible with personal liberty
] consider the present act n failure and
think We ought to save of il what we
can
IT is my belief that the people want
to have drunkenness prohibited and that
in time such prohibition will be secured
But it appears TO me that no law can
be enforced against the common CON
science Of the majority Of the people.
Conscience. a-er all. rules democ-
ncy and conscience depends largely
NpoH the understanding of the facts. I,
therefore. think tnG American people
ought TO be consulted again rs TO what
they meant when they enacted the pro e
bibitiOn law. That seems to be the only
TSr to secure the effective enforcement
" reasonable prohibition measure"
Explains Reasons for Ills Move
DR., Convict Systematically discussed
each point raised in his petition. OF
planning his reasons for projecting the
issues.
First ot all. he said. there is the
word manufacture. which occurs in
he first sentence Of the amendment
Many things that naturally ferment
We cider nnd various wines. fcrmcnt
Nh"n not touched. 1he alcoholic ron e
'"n' in them is not manufactured. II
y manufactured by nature. Certain
Italian wines. which arr good for pco
Mo to drink. urr case in point.
IT makes 10 difference what the
Supreme Court has or has not decided.
This question has never come before
toe Supreme Court.
There IL no human power that can
stop this manufacture BY nature
Nature is making fermpnted liquids by
thN millions Of gallons every hour. Con
'"QuentIy, there should be a definition
as 70 how much Of human agency j.
'nOnfarturcr.
s. A. r. Honor Washington