The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-02-23
CLUB WOMEN
DENOUNCE Law
ONLY ONE REFUSES TO IN
DORSE WET RESOLU-
TION.

Between thirty and forty women
were at a meeting in the Biltmore
Hotel, New York, a few days ago
when the chairman called for q ris-
ing vote of all those in fav,. of pro-
hibition. One woman stood up.
The women were members of the
Woman's Democratic Club, of which
Mrs. George H. Childs is president.
The subject of prohibition was in
jected into the otherwise routine meet
ing by Miss Elizabeth Marbury, who
is on the Democratic National Com
mittee. Her attack on prohibition
was received with loud applause. Her
appeal for light wines and beers re-
ceived another ovation. The women
were beginning to exchange recipes
fol- home brew when the chairman
raped for order.
"The Volstead act Is serious and
it's going to take an enormous amount
Of pressure if it is ever changed" be-
gan Miss Marbury. "Don't be de-
ceived by the figures the prohibition
lists give out as representing the num-
Der who drank before the war and
the number who drink now. The
question is, rot how many drink now,
but is drinking the worst sin among
US. Let US assume that we have re-
duced intemperance. What about
drug addiction?
81 personally know and have talked
tn welfare workers and others who
assure me that drug addiction has
. increased since the Volstead act was
passed. These welfare workers were
always hopeful about curing intem-
perance, but not so hopeful about the
addicts. It is much easier for girl
/ or the stage, or any other girl, to
acquire the drug habit than the drink
habit.
1--WE women would never advocate
the return of the unrestricted corner
saloon, but we have got to do some
thing, We know the Volstead act is
not being observed, and / throw down
my gauntlet here and say it never
will be observed. I believe firmly
that 80 per- cent f;.the well to do
residents of this city break the Vol:
stead act continuously. Why? Be-
cause the conscience of the average
person doesn't rebel at breaking that
law.
'"The fact that you can get wines
ard whiskies proves that there is a
hole somewhere in the enforcement
program and that the prohibition law
is one that we feel we can break. /
clamor here and now for provision
that will give US light wines and
beer. The operation of the law is
unjust: We owe it to ourselves and
t.. our political party to have the
prohibition law put on more equal
able basis so that it does not protect
some interests an6 fail to protect
others.
(Which is worse crime, to knock
a man in the head and take away
his watch or connive with the boot
leggers and fill your cellars with il
licit drinks? It's time for us wom-
en- to get together and think Of the
serious aspects of this prohibition
condition"
| Mrs. Childs rose with gavel in hand
ard announced that she thought they
ought to take a vote on the question.
Fl don't think any one takes the law
seriously" she said. @"How many OF
you are in favor of prohibition?"
| One woman in the front row, Mrs.
! William M. Brann of New Jersey,
rose.
"I don't believe modification Of the
volstead act will ever come" said
Mrs. Brann. eff you put it to vote
the prohibitionists will win"
"Those are my sentiments" Miss
Marburg interjected, with a sad note
; in her voice. ~ suppose it would be
about five against one for prohibition"
"What about modifying the Vol
stead act so that we could have light
wines and beer?" suggested Mrs. An
ma Naughton, Democratic leader OF
the Fifteenth Assembly district.
Couldn't we have that as a separate
measure and we women work for it,"
eve can do lot to create senti-
ment in favor of such measure,'
vouchsafed Mrs. John S. OLeary.
'tI.m not in favor of prohibition. The
lew will never be kept. Well have