Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-27
~Dry" Act
Denounced
by A. Foil.
Executive Council Appeals Ia
People 10 Demand Amend.
ment for Restoration of
Beer and Light Wines.

BY GRAFTON WILCOX,
Dniaha lie. LEASED Nirs,


ing the Nolstead prohibition cn-
iofeemrut act a. "a moral failure
and dangerous breeder Of discou-
tent and contempt ior law" the
executive council al the American
Federation OF Labor appealed TO the
people OF the country 10 demand IFS
amendment to the extent oi restoring
the Lawful use OF beer aud light
wines.
The labor leaders appeal is a d.
rect effort TO make "ligh, wine and
beer a political issue in the forth
coming congressional campaign. is
conclusion being as follows:
I'VE urge that all citizens in every
walk OF life demand from their rep
rcsentativcs aud senator's in Wash.
ingion immediate relief from the
uuwarranted restriction contained in
the Nolstead act; and we likewise
suggest 10 the citizenship OF our
country the wisdom and advisable
ity OF bearing in mind the attitude
toward this issue OF office holders
and aspirants 70 office in coming
elections in order that there NAV
he restored TO the people the law
ful use OF wholesome beer and ligh,
wines. which, under the provisions
OF the 18th amendment. can and
should be rightiully declared as non
Intoxicating beverages.
Report on Conditions.
The declaration of the executive
council was reached after dclibera-
tions here today in which reports
from labor unions throughout the
country. statistics OF prohibition en-
iorcement, crime and industrial un-
rest had been given conG Jeration.
Signatories to the declaration, as
suming TO speak for organized labor
OF the United States, assert that they
are seeking no violation OF the prohi-
pltion amandmcnt to the constitu-
tlon, but that they are convinced the
Volstead act is an improper interpre-
tatlon OF the amendment. "a drastic
and unreasonable Interpretation"
which has destructive effect in all di-
rcctions.
Results Of Investigation.
Before this decision was reached
reads the appeal, "the executive
council OF the American Federation
OF Labor had caused to be made an
exhaustive investigation of the ci-
fects OF the Volstead act. 1t was
shown by this investigation that
there had been:
y. A general disregard of the
law among all classes of people. in
Guiding those who made the law.
-. Creation of thousands of
moonshiners among both country
and city dwellers.
g. The creation of an army of
bootleggers.
a, An amazing increase in the
traihc in poisons and deadly con-
coctions and drugs.
5. An increased rate Of insanity,
blindness and crime among the users
OF these connections and drugs.
%. Increase III unemployment due
to loss Of employment by workers
in 45 industries directly or Indirect
ly connected with the manufacture
of liquors.
!. ltcrease ia taxes to city, state
and national governments amount
ing to approximately $l000.000,000
a year.
Charge Wrong Interpretation.
Having in mind these results of
the extreme Interpretation of tie
prohibition amendment contained in
the Volstead act. as we'll as the enor-
nous expense of the attempt to en-
iiorce that unenforceable legislation.
1t is. our conclusion that the act IS
all improper Interpretation of the
prohibition amendment, that if is \
social and moral failure. and thar
1t is a dangerous breeder OF discos-
tent and Of contempt for all law
Something of the economic effece
OF the Volstead law may be seen bv
considering the fact that in 1918. ac-
cording to government statistics,
SllOO00,00O worth of farm products
were consumed by breweries and
that the transportation OF these
products to the market and thence
TO the consumer necessitated the
use OF l53.666 railroad cars. In ad-
dition to this. breweries in operation
IN !9l8 consumed $4,000 carloads cf
coal. 1t must be obvious that the TO-
tai economic effect OF the destruction
OF tins industry is tremendous.
90 We do not protest against the
18th amendment to the constitut;on
winch now is part OF the funda-
mental law OF the land. We do not
protest against the principle cstab-
lished by the 18th amendment n i
our contention that the 18th amend,
inent' under a reasonable and proper
legislative Interpretation. would he
Denehcial to our country and would
nave the support of the great ma.
lorltv of our people.
The 18th amendment however.
under the present drastic and I'm,
reasonable legislative Interpretation
has a destructive and deterioratine
effect and influence in every direc-
ton