The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-08
PROHIBITION ARMY CALLS CONF ERENCE
 FUR WAR ON WE TS
DryS Alarmed Over Defiance Of Gov. Pinchot's Order
 To Saloonkeepers
By RAYMOND CHAPTER CBy Leased Wire to AEe-Herald


 WASHINGTON, Oct 7.-Prohibi- tionists, admitting for the first time the seriousness of the impending wet drive have sounded the alarm for big conference here this week. They have become alarmed over such in cidents as the defiance of Governor Pinchot's closing orders by Philadel- phia saloon keepers. They now pub liely admit that they must pull their forces together to save the Volstead act from becoming dead letter.
 This is the first time that drys have confessed that all was not well with prohibition. The admission follows series of incidents which have Haunted the failures of prohibition before the public eye. Preceding Pinchots efforts to tame Philadel- phia saioCn keepers, Commissioner Hayes wrote a story revealing cor ruptlon in enforcement, Attorney General Daugherty issued report in the enforcement work as the most tragic epoch in the history of law enforcement and the Vtlstead act was openly criticised before the re- cent convention of the American Bankers association.
 These incidents and the boldness of the vets in New York. New Jer- sey, Pennsylvania and Maryland have mdde it impossible for drys to shut their eyes to conditions any longer.
 O O o Conference Saturday.
 They have called 8 general confer enee here for next Saturday, to be attended by representatives of prac- tieally every national religious and welfare organization. The fact that Governor Pinchot will preside gives 1t unexpected political significance. ik f1u nAls before President CoLlidge's confer ence of governors.
 In summoning the conference, the committee declares there is an alarm ing violation of the Yolstead act, that vets are waging an aggressive fight, and that in face of this con dition drys lack solidarity and are apathetic in backing up dry agents.
 There is in certain sections of the country an alarming violation or the liquor law" the committee declares.
 If permitted to go unrestrained, this will eventually result in the in creased violation of all law, and the rule of the mob will become the method of the vicious.
 "There is abundant evidence that the enemies of the eighteenth amend ment are carrying on wide cam paign of publicity, much of which is false, concerning the degree of the u purpose being to poison the public mind and to bring back, as far as possible, the legaliZation of the traf- fic in alcoholic beverages.
 There is among the churches and other moral and religious organiza- tions a serious lack of solidarity in their practical and effective co-Cpera- tion with the officials who are work ing for the enforcement of the law"
 Q O o
 Haynes To Speak.
 Commissioner Haynes will be call ed before the meeting to be question: ed about the prohition situation.
 Wild and unverified statements are current, in some instances meant to give the impression that the Eight eenth amendment and the Volstead act are both dead letters in the realm of legislation" the committee said. "Others. perhaps, are equally S mis- leading in the opposite view. The conference will seek to know facts whether pleasant or otherwise.
 "The law breakers and the liquor interests are going forward in ac- cordance with well wrought out, prescribing plan. There must be an equal degree of efficiency in com batting the lawlessness of the liquor elements.
 "The third objective is to recover the morale of the moral and Chris tian forces upon the issue at stake. The enthusiasm of the moral and Christian forces knew no limits dur ing the struggle for the constitutional amendment. But other important questions have arisen, and these, talk en with Q natural relaxation from the strain, have somewhat lessened the pressure.''
 Among prominent political figures who will be on hand for the con- ference are William J. Bryan, Sena- tor Borah. Governor Sweet of Colo rado, Governor Trinkle of Virginia. Former Governor Henry Allen of Kansas. Clifford Pinchot is honor- ary chairman, and former Govern or Carl F. Millilken of Maine is ac. tive chairman.
 The cement fresco work on the