The New York herald., 1922-07-24
6S P. G. FAVOR WINE
AND BEER IN POLL
Literary Digest Finds $780,.
797 Against Volstead Act
and 76,597 for It.

The ten million poll of the literary
Digest on prohibition and the soldier
bonus has reached 100000 ballots re-
ceived and tabulated. While there has
been a slight decrease IN wet sentiment,
the change has been very slight. 1t re-
mains true. on the face of this express
sion. that the voters. counting those who
vote. for modification and repeal as
against the present law. are registering
themselves strongly against the continu-
alton and enforcement df the prohibition
amendment and the vols.ead act. 1t re-
mains equally true thai they are regis
tering themselves in favor Of the prohi-
bition amendment, admitting that a
large proportion of those favoring the
modification of the Vols,ead act would
by no means go back 10 the wide open
days before the adoption of the consti-
tutional amendment.
The more than 200. 900 ballots record
76,597 in favor of the strict enforce
ment of the Eighteenth Amendment and
the Volstead act. S5,15t in favor of a
modification of the vo'stead law to per-
NIT light wines and beer and 45,646 in
favor of repeating the amendment.
Slightly more than SO jar cent. Of those
voting so far are in favor OF ameliorat-
ing the present rigid enforcement.
Thousands of letters have been re-
ccived along with ballots by the Literary
Digest, and these letters emphasize what
Is apparently strong opposition to COM
rletely dry act. Practically all are
against any restoration Of the saloon.
Many demand that the Government take
charge of liquor selling. as In Quebec
and British Columbia. Others write that
the volstead act is an absolute failure.
William H. Anderson. looking over the
Literary Digest's frs. returns, said
Its nationwide poll is unwise. must be
inconclusive and may be a hindrance in
stead of help to law enforcement and
law observance"
| Wet sentiment continues strong In
| in New England States, where the vote
| is IL to Z, by percentage, for modifica-
ton OF the present law; in the middle
Atlantic States. where the percentage Is
about 2 to 1; nthe south Atlantic
States, wherei Il Is about 8 to l., and in
the Pacific States. where It is about
to /. a 8
In the weeks total Of 2o5,0oo votes on
the bonus the balance is very close. less
than 1000 representing the slight swing
since last week to the ''yes" side Of the
argument. The pro-bonus strength is
shown to lie IL the middle West and far
| w est, WIN tnS E<hSl oil Ou6iy OPPOoS0'
Pennsylvania seems to represent an In
termediate point. In the East North
Central States the vote is running 2 to
in favor of the bonus, with Illinois lead
ing the procession. Returns from most
sections Of the country are only just get
ting under way. The vote Of New York
State shows to against so far. Mas
sachusetts is almost to against. Mis-
souri, is about evenly divided. as Is Ohio.
Many letters are being received on the
bonus questionnaire also. of which this
from a printer in Olean. N. T.. Is a
| sample:
| III sound man wants bonus. do
not want him to talk to me abeut pa
triotism. I had a son In the marines
and that Is what he heard from the OLD
man."
Thousands Of letters demand Justice
and care for the sick and crippled and
scout at the suggestion Of paying sound
men for serving their country.