The Washington herald., 1922-02-27
A.F. OIL. LEADERS
INSIST ON RETURN
OF BEER and WINE
Council Assails Volstead
Act and Injects Issue
Into Campaign.

Denouncing the volstead prohibit
tion enforcement act as "a moral
failure" and a dangerous breeder
Of disco 9-tent and contempt
for law the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation OF
Labor appealed to the people of
the country yesterday to demand
its amendment to the extent of re-
storing the lawful use of beer and
light wines.
The labor leaders appeal is a
direct effort to make light wine
and beer political issue -,n--tae
Forthcoming Congressional cam :
paign. its conclusion being as fol-
lows:
we urge that all citizens in
every walk of life demand from
their Representatives and Senators
in Washington immediate relief
from the unwarranted restriction
contained in the Volstead act; and
we likewise suggest to the citizen
ship of our country the wisdom and
advisability of bearing in mind the
attitude toward this issue of office
holders and aspirants to office in
coming elections in order that there
may be restored to the people the
lawful use of wholesome beer ana
light wines, which under the pro-
visions of the Eighteenth amend
ment can and should be rightfully
declared as Notwithstanding bever-
ages"
The declaration of the executive
council was reached after delibera-
tons here yesterday In which re-
ports from labor unions throughout
the country. statistics of prohibi-
ton enforcement. crime and indus
trial unrest had been given con-
sideration.
Signatories to the declaration. as
suming to speak for organized
labor of the United States, assert
that they are seeking no violation
of the prohibition amendment to
the constitution, but that they are
convinced the Volstead act is an
improper Interpretation of the
amendment. "a drastic and unrea-
sonable Interpretation" which has
destructive effects in all directions.
The action of the executive coun-
Gil supplements action taken last
June by the convention Of the
American Federation of Labor at
Denver. The declaration of the
council that the federation plan 90
place it's candidates for Congress in
the field in the Forthcoming elec.
ton. constitutes notice that swine
and beer" certainly will be injected
forcibly into the campaign as a live
issue.
Before this decision was reached" !"
reads the appeal, 'the execu-
tive council of the A. F. of L. had
caused to be made an exhaustive
investigation of the effects of the
volstead act. 1t was shown by
this investigation that there had
been:
81. A general disregard OF the
law among all classes of people, in
GLIDING those who made the law.
80. Creation of thousands of
moonshiners among both country
and city dwellers.
"3. The creation of an army Of
bootleggers.
-. An amazing increase In the
traffic in poisons and deadly con-
coctions and drugs.
"5. An increased rate of insanity.
blindness and crime among the
users Of these concoctions and
drugs.
sc. Increase in unemployment due
to loss Of employment by workers
in forty-fice industries directly or
indirectly connected with the manu-
facture OF liquors.
az. Increase in taxes to city. State
and national governments amount
ing to approximately $1,000. .00o,0 600
a year. o..