Evening journal., 1922-03-02
VETS ARGUEFOR
Wine AND Beer
Messrs. Stayton, Bayard and
McNabb Would Amend
Volstead Act
ABRAHAMS WRITES
HE is OPPOSED

tonight as TO Its attitude toward such
modification Of the volstead act as
will permit the manufacture and
sale OF light wines and beer
question was brought forward
recently by receipt OF resolution
adopted by the City Council OF Chi
cago favoring the milder stimulants.
Two weeks ago the "drys" attacked
the resolution sharply at a hearing
before the local body, and last night
the "wets" had their inning.
Thomas f. Bayard, Of this city.
and William II. stayton. formerly
resident OF Wilmington, but now an
organizer of the National Associa-
tion Against the Prohibition Amend
ment, with headquarters in Wash
/ ington. were the speakers.
Mr.. stayton was introduced by Mr.
Bayard. who declared that "a great
( deal OF the present orgy Of disaster
murder and other infractions OF the
law could be eliminated by the pro
posed modification OF the Volstead
! act.
A feature OF the hearing was the
! declaration OF Councilman John p.
/ McNabb, that although not drink
ing man. he would vote for the res
olution favoring light wines and
beer. He also sharply criticized
what he described as the lobbying
methods used by the Anti-Saloon
League at Dover in obtaining the
passage OF the Klair. or state dry
/ law.
Mr.. Stayton assailed the Volstead
Act without gloves. He declared that
for citizens Of one section of the
counsry to dictate TO citizens OF an
other what they should eat or drink
was to "sow the seeds Of antagon-
ism and discomfort which might
breed serious trouble"
prohibition" declared Mr., Stay
ton, should be dealt with locally
and not in violation OF the funda-
mental principle Of home rule which
has made this nation the great ma
tion that It is"
Mr.. Stayton also charged that pro-
Inhibition was unpopular with the ma
iority OF voters, also that most of
the citizens OF the counSry never had
la NnhH&t 10 NAIAifnN Ah'AA 'NNNt''"N'tNN
on the question. In answer TO a
charge that the 'wets' should not
have gone out Of the State to OBJ
tain champion for their cause, he
emphasized that he had been a
resident OF the state for sixty-.wo
years.
There are three classes OF peo'
pie who oppose any modification OF
the Volstead Act" said Mr.. Stayton
{ "These are. first, some sincere per
sons who believe whisky should b'
. done away with entirely; second, tn
paid lobbyists Of the Anti-Salooi
League and other prohibition organ
izations. and third, the bootleggeri
and moonshiners. with whom the
Christian church unhappily finds Il.
self allied" Prohibition OF the use
OF alcohol for medicinal purposes
he insisted. was unconstitutional
There was an unusually large at
tendance at Council by citizens, ow-
ing 10 the discussion OF the proposed
ordinance to tax vehicles. Many OF
these remained to hear the wet
and dry" debate. There was little
applause however.
In his speech introducing Mr..
stayton, Mr.. Bayard had said Il was
men who came TO Delaware from
other States who marshaled the
forces OF the Anti-Saloon League at
Dover and that "man named
Crabbe" from Maryland led the
dry" forces He also declared that
nurses ait the Delaware Hospital
had testified that during the infiu-
enza epidemic, whisky mad saved
the lives OF many patients.
Recalling resolutions adopted by
the swedish churches OF the city
which were read two weeks ago be
fore Council at the hearing giver
the dry" side OF the question
Councilman McNabb took issue Will
those who harshly criticise advo
Gates OF milder forms OF stimuiants
IT'S the old. old story" declared
= Councilman McNabb," that the mai
who differs in opinion is an Esau.
Q Benedict Arnold or a Judas Iscarioi
I object to the characterization tina
men who believe the law should b
IS amended are traitors to their coun
NH VI NAN NAWNhHs NMNHWNN
= shall be branded as crook for m
't own stand" he said.
D. Councilman McNabb declared tina
s. methods used by the dry" force
y in obtaining the passage OF IN
III Klair act at Dover were "repreher
e. sible." and that Legislators who
., - o'clock voted for the measure.
~ o'clock had their hands out fC
free whlskey."
IL Councilman Abrahams who wa
not present al the session last nigh
su sent the following letter;
~ The Chicago resolution does M
ne require, and should not receive an
OF further consideration from us
U.s. have considered this subject froi
ut many angles, and really believe "
have given Il too much considers
er ton. We were not elected for IN
nd purpose Of considering matters fo
on eign to city legislation. Any actic
&C. we might take will have no leg
IL standing. II will express persons
ay opinion. not TIE voice OF the peopl
srs "I really feel we have no mo-
on right to suggest to Congress tn
is they consider this subject than v
he have to ask the national governii
, a body to pay the sailors and soldie
bonus. Such action would certal
ly be unethical Our Washingt,
representatives are jumping fro
M pillar to post trying TO settle Il
"a bonus question, and what 100 Ci
ho Councils would say would ha
.ia very little effect. They realize tn
have TO take TIE blame on all su