The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-04
SAYS DRUNKNNESS
Is MORE FREQUENT
THAN EVER BEFORE
Distillers and BOOtleggers Ard
ent Supporters of the
y Prohibition Act.
HUDSON MAXIM SCORES
BLUE LAW FANATICS"
Declares They Are as Intolerant
and MerciIess as Priest
hood of InquisitiOn.
tpy Ths Asaoolated Pressl

NEW YORK. May 3.-Samuel Com
pers president of the American FEEDER
alton or Labor, speaking tonight to
crowd that jammed Madison Square
Garden in a mass meeting called by
the New York branch OF the Assocla-
tion. again the prohibition amendment,
declared that labor must make the
fight now and we will never stop
fighting until the rights Of the people
have been restored to them"
Hewas cheered BY crowds both in
side and outside the big pavilion for
those who could not get into the hall
heard the various speakers through
voice amplifiers The meeting was
largely attended By members Of union
labor, representatives Of more than
thirty labor organizations being pres
ent. There also were many men prom
iment IN the citys business and finan-
cial circles, who occupied places on
the stage. A large part Of the audi
ence was composed OF women
II and the Federation represent" /"
Mr.. Gompers said, "are In favor OF
beer and light wines and against any
attempt to enforce sumptuary laws
aimed at the personal liberties Of our
people.
I have always mad faith ID the future
Of my country. but with prohibition /
am apprehensive OF that future Tenn
perance was the rule OF the great
mass Of organized labor but the pro-
hibltlonists and the so-called Anti.
saloon Leaguers have done more to
undermine the morality and temper
ance OF the working man than any
other agency I know.
II have travelled all over the United
States before prohibition. including
its so-called dry territories and today
as / pass through these sections
have found more drunkenness than ever
before.
There are no stronger or more
powerful supporters OF the volstead
act than the distillers and bottieggers."
Mr.. Gompers declared to the accom-
paniment OF vociferous applause. with
the Volstead act and prohibition re-
placed by a light wine and beer bill
the bottleggers would go out OF busi-
ness"
James P. Holland president Of the
state Federation of Labor, declared
that II the representatives in congress
from New York did not listen to the
demands OF the people, Others will be
nut In who would
THE congressman OF this state" he
said, must listen to the demands OF
the citizens OF New York, who Insist
on a modification or the Volstead act
Mr.. Holland read a letter from Unit
ed States Senator wadsworth, Of New
York, which said in part;
Frankly. I think we made a ter
rible mistake when we inserted
sumptuary law OF this kind In the con-
stitution OF the United States. This
was fundamental error Then we
made another mistake when we passed
an enforcement act so severe in its pro-
visions that 1t is proving impossible
Nof enforcement 1t is entirely clear
that great masses OF people are hold
ing this law in disrespect; violations
are going on at wholesale. corruption
Is spreading hypocrisy is the order OF
the day. II extends into every element
OF the population; leads to disrespect
Mnd indeed, contempt for law and the
cfderly conduct Of government"
James Speyer banker, who opened
the meeting, said what he personally
disliked more than anything else about
the Volstead act was that st is fast
degenerating the class Legislation,
favoring the will-to-do as against the
less fortunate ones OF our citizens"
Hudson Maxim, another speaker. said
that "the blue law fanatics of prohi-
bition are new priesthood as intol-
Grant and merciless as the priesthood
OF the Spanish Inauisition.n