New-York tribune., 1922-12-20
RepubIicanClub
Splits on Beer
And Wine Bill
Committee Report Urging
Congress to Liberalize
VoIstead Act Is Laid Over
After a Warm Debate
To Call Rival Leaders
Wheeler and Colonel Gilleit
10 Speak Before National
Organization Takes Vote

The National Republican Club after
a hot debate last night, put over Tor q
month disposition Of q report from
ia national affairs committee com
mltting the club TO a liberalization Of
tho volstead act to permit the manu-
s,eture. sale and importation OF ligh'
wines and beer. .
Before the next meeting there will
be a Saturday discussions meeting Of
The club addressed by Wayne B.
Wheeler. tho counsel for the National
Anti-saloon League. and Colonel RAN
som II. Gllctt, state counsel for tho
Association Opposed 20 Prohibition
Speeches in favor Of urging Congress
10 modify the Nolstead act, 20 permit
ne manufacture and sale Of beer and
light wines. we're made By Louis
Guenther, Joseph Leyeuson aad former
Senator Martin SAKE. Among those
opposed we're william Il. Vanben-
sehoten. Henry Melville. J. Leland and
~ Millcr. Finally near midnight ).
Stanwood Menken moved that the re-
port, which had been presented BY
Robert ". Bonynce. be laid over Tor
o month, and this motion prevailed.
Would Amend Law
'Tn the opinion OF your eommitteei" F"
said the report, there Is great unrest
and dissatisfaction on the part Of many
people with the definition Of into1ieat-
ing liquors as contained IN the Vol
stead law. The definition is regarded
By many law-ahiding citizens as unrca-
sonable and unnecessarily strict and
oppressive. We think the act can be
am,nded without violating the eonsti-
tuticnal amendment
"We believe that Il would be con-
ducive 20 q better enforcement Of ana
a greater respect for the Law II the
definition Of Intoxicating liquors cor
taincd I'm the national prohibition laW
we've TO be modified by permitting,
within constitutional limits, an IN
cease m the alcoho ic content Of bev-
,rarcs. This CoIgre e, and Congreas
alone. has tho power 90 90 10 long
az the Volstead law Is IN eject II
should be strictly enforced ~ botA lAe
Federal and state government
For Liberal Eltion
"The definition Of alcoholic h9lora
n, contained in the volstead act Is
binding uron the states, and, no matter
hov object enable tie definition may
be % the people Of any particular
state. 10 &C. the duty Of the state officers
10 enforce 10 as long rs 10 remains the
supreme law o. the lard. We believe
the iberalizirg OF the definition By
Congrcss. within const tut onal limits,
would result In a much more practical
enforcement Of the Law. To what cx-
cent the alcoholic content Of liquors
may be increased. within the limits of
the constitutional amendment, is a
matteT that must be determ ned by
ConsTess on such evidence as 10 can
con maud
following resolutions be adopted in tho
place and stead Of the resolution ze-
ferred %, TO Wit:
Whereas, Congress has power under
the Eighteenth Amendment Of the Con-
stitution u the United States 20 de-
fine intoxicating liquors within The pro-
hiDition Of said amendment, and
Whereas, The present definition o.
Intoxicating liquors under the national
prohibition law is in the opinion Of
iNANN law ~uUAuANE AAAAANA4a AAAANAaAAA-
able ard unnecessarily strict and op-
pressive. thereby encouraging disre-
spcct for the law,
Permit beer and Wine
"Now therefore be II resolved by the
National Republican Club that Con-
gress be and IL Is hereby respectfully
petitioned 90 amend said act by libeT-
aliziug within constitutional limita-
tions the definition Of Intoxicating
liquors as therein contained, 50 as "a
permit the manufacture, sale and i'm
portation Of light wines and beer.
Resolved further that copies Of this
report and these resolutions be for
warded 20 the members OF the Judi
eisry Committees Of the Seaste and
House Of Representatives of the
United States"