The New York herald., 1922-09-27
Third PARTY URGED
AS DRY LAW RELIEF
Restaurateurs Sponsor Idea
as Best Way to Keep
Issue Active.
WOULD UNITE FORCES
VOlstead Lar Observance
by Society Declared to Be
Surest Argument.
TACTICS OF FOE PRAISED
Anti-Prohibitionists Called On
to Build Machine Like Anti
Saloon League.

AS the first step of an active cam
paign for the repeal of the Volstead
law, the New York Society of Res
taurateurs. meeting at Keen's Chop
House. 1o7 West Forty-fourth street,
yesterday passed resolution favor
ing the suggestion OF a third political
party for the purpose of keeping the
anti-prohibition issue to the front and
accommodating sentiment behind that
issue until the dominant political
parties are compelled to take notice
and act upon It,"
Strict observance of the Volstead
law by members Of the organization
was favored In the resolution as the
best means of obtaining a repeal of
the act by bringing home its tyranny
and its absurdity."
The third party suggestion was
sponsored by Oscar J. Smith, former
member of the General Assembly. who
said.
To-day 1t is up to US to regain the
liberties we have lost: but to do this
we must have an organization as ef-
ficient and well officered as that OF
the Anti-Saloon League. We have to-day
scattered over our land more than
twenty organizations with hundreds OF
thousands of members. all working in
dependently for modification or repeal
of the volstead law and the Eighteenth
Amendment. But their efforts are no.
unified.
"Liberty Party" Proposed.
After much earnest thought and dis
cussion. l am convinced that the best
way to get them all together under one
head is by the organization of Liberty
party, a political party having for iti
objects the preservation of the liberties
we still have and the restoration oi
the liberties that have been stolen from
| us: a political party with only two
planks in its platform-one denouncina
the Eighteenth Amendment and its en-
forcement laws and the other denounc-
/ ing the blue laws and sumptuary legis
lation and declaring for the largest pos
!
commensurate with public safety and
private rights.
1.-THE rank and file of the Republican
party and the Democratic party, from
one end of the country TO the other. are
/ thoroughly disgusted with their respec'
tive leaders and bosses. The time Is
ripe for the organization OF the Liberal
party All the different associations
| that now are making individual fights
could get together In Liberty party
and fight shoulder to shoulder against
prohibition and the blue law fanatics.
Until the Liberty party is on its feet
and in active political existence we must
not overlook the Importance OF defeat.
/ ing every dry candidate, no matter FOL
what Office he may be running ana nc
matter what ticket he is running on"
Wants People to Decide.
Col. Ransom H. Gillett. general coun.
sci for the Association Opposed to Pro-
hibition and former member OF the Gen.
| eral Assembly. preceding Judge Smith
He assailed the Volstead act as usurping
the personal liberties OF citizens and de-
clared that the prohibition issue should
be taken into the political arena where
, its fate may be decided by public .enti-
nent.
Relief must come from Washington"
said Col. Gillett. urging the restaurant
owners to elect to Congress those candi.
dates who will fight for repeal OF the
Volstead law and the enactment of q
sane measure that viii properly con-
struc the intentions Of the Eighteenth
Amendment"
The Association Opposed to Prohibit
ton. he said. will open offices in Wash
ington and send organizers to every
State In the country. Within FIVE years
he expects the organization. TO "get
relief through repeal of the volstead
measure.
Republicans and Democrats have
sidestepped prohibition successfully and
continuously for nifty years." Col. Gil.
lett added. Neither party apparent.
ly intends to go to bat on II this year,
or any other year II they can help IL.
When, however. a sufficiently large
number OF voters express their ideas
In a State and national election. the
managers of the major parties will hop
on the band wagon and claim to have
discovered new Issue"