Evening journal., 1922-02-16
''DRYS" WIN IN
FIRST SKIRMISH.
Action on Beer, Light Wine
Resolution Deferred for
Two Weeks
CHURCH PEOPLE
OPPOSE APPROVAL

The "drys" won what might be
termed a bloodness victory in the
hrst round Of the battle over the
beer and light wine resolutions be-
fore City Council last night. Not a
single wet" voice was heard.
Il also was clearly apparent that
the "drys". in so far as they arc rep
resented by the church-going element
do not intend to permit least op-
pormnity 10 be lost to support their
cause against what one OF their
speakers termed the 'un-American
propaganda"
The debate centered on the reso-
iutions adopted by the city councils
OF Chicago and New York, favor
Ing milder beverages and a letting
down OF the bars on prohibition.
As for the Wilmington City Coun-
ell itself. It sat silent; gave every op-
portunity 10 all who wished to be
heard to express themselves at the
uttermost. and then quietly recessed.
Following the recess President Ward
called for opinion by the members
as TO what action should be taken
Councilman Mulvena promptly
moved that further consideration OF
the Chicago resolutions should be
postponed for two weeks. This mo-
tion was adopted without a dissent
ing vote.
whether the ''wets" have any linC
OF attack planned. or whether they
plan 10 smother the entire proposal
through delay could not be learned
Members OF Council were mute OF
the topic.
The Rev Leonard White. pastor
Of Mount Salem NJ. f. Church. de
clared the Eighteenth Amendment
"never will be repealed" and tha
the 'liquor propagandists" wer'
working to break down enforcement
Of the law. and the modification o
the Volstead act so as 10 permit sail
Of light wines and beer. He argue,
that strict obediance was due to Law
by every American city. Two classe
he said. in American life-"high so
ciety' and "the underworld" wer
today deliberately violating the Ii
quor laws The high society" ele
ment, he declared was the worse O
the two.
Mr.. White said he never had tast
ed beer, so could not testify to II
Intoxicating quality. He had work
3D. however. he said. in a rollin
mill in this city, years ago and It
pay day had to be changed TO allo'
drinking men time to recover fror
their dehauches.
Mr.. White denounced the effoi
to force the light wine and beer pro
4 posal through Congress as part
the Soldier Bonus bin as an iii
suit 70 every American soldier"
mo soldier wants money whic
comes from blood and tears" he de
clared.
In behalf OF the Methodist Preach
ers' Association. the Rev. Mr.. Whit
also read the following:
We are informed that you hav,
under consideration for action pre-
sumably, a resolution adopted b,
the City Council OF Chicago to peti.
tion the Congress OF the United
States TO nullify the eighteenth
amendment by so changing the Act
OF Congress. known as the volstead
Act TO permit manufacture and
sale Of beer and wine.
Concerning this matter. permi
us TO respectfully suggest to YOU
honorable body the following:
Il. The assertion in paragraph
Of the resolution before you con
tains a gross exaggeration. IL no
palpably false. For
"a II the general public wer
opposed 20 existing prohibition law.
as this resolution from Chicago as
serts. there is an easy way to test 4
Nhere is hut one legal process b
Mpich the Constitution can b
eRnended That process was resort
90 10 and the States and the Cor
eress Of the United States by an ur
precedented vote passed the e.gl
teenth amendment. There is br
one way 10 legally get rid OF n
eighteenth amendment and that
the process by which fl was adopte
'b. But further. since tie ado
uon Of that amendment and the pa
sage OF the Volstead act. several a
tempts have been made to indu
the Congress OF the United States
nullifv this amendment. and tho
efforts have met with overwheimi
defeat, and since the Congress Of {
United States is a body represent
the people, and since 1t has stead
refused to comply with the deman