The Washington times., 1923-03-18
TESS DEGREES
new YORK BEER.
AND WINE PLEA
Letter to Gov. Smith Attacks
States Agitation for Modi-
fiCation of the Dry Laws
DEEMS MOVE PERILoUs
Compromise on Enforcement
Of Statutes Dangerous.
Precedent, Says Senator
BY Universal service.

By universal service.
Senator-elect Simeon D. Tess
Of Ohio, in letter to Gov. Alfred
=. Smith of New York yesterday,
declared the agitation started by
the New York State legislature to
legalize the use of beer and light
wines was contrary to the col
lective sentiment Of the nation.
SEES DRY SENTIMENT.
The letter was a reply to COM
naunication from Governor Smiths
office transmitting the copy of the
resolution recently passed at Albany
rnemoriaiizng Congress to modify
the prohibition enforcement act.
After tracing the history Of the pro-
hibition movement the FesS letter
Ia part is as follows:
There has been well organized
propaganda to secure a compro-
mise on the beverage question.
do not think It wise movement.
My decision Is not incidental, but
drawn from facts known to all
who have followed to lessen the
evils of the drink habit.
The people Of this country are
not against prohibition, but are
for it. The 2.75 beer compro-
mise was offered to Ohio. great
industrial state, and was defeat
ed by over 189 900. California In
the last election adopted q State
code In harmony with the Federal
act by u majority Of over $4,000
when two years before such 9
measure was defeated by 5000.
measure was defeated by $4,000.
These beer compromise measures
have been defeated by referendum
votes in Michigan. by 207,O 900 ma
30rity: in Washington. Oregon.
Colorado. Arizona ana other
States. Straw votes taken among
the vets may show sentiment
for beer, but real votes in which
al the people participate. snow
that the people sustain the law
IN effective form. The reasons Tor
these results are not Tar 70 seek.
BT4ANIES SELFISH RICH.
The survey made by two of the
great wet papers OF the nation
several months ago disclosed, by
their own estimate. that the con-
sumption II beverage intoxicants
had decreased 70 per cent. The
survey made by others formerly
unfriendIy to prohibition indicates
that the number of regular drink
ers has decreased from over TO-
600 900 to $500 900. The selfish
rich and welI-to-do are the ones
who are now making the oiitcry
against prohibition Their supply
OF LIQUOR is running low and they
are irritated at the Inconvenience
OF getting more or the fact that
the liquor may be poisoned. Both
the welI.to-do and those OF mod
crate means will find 1t beneficial
in every way to obey the law and
secure the advantages Of total
abstinence.
There can be no compromise
with lawlessness. As long as the
eighteenth amendment is IN the
constitution it should be enforced.
When the people do not want il
they can repeal it. IT is danger
GUS doctrine to advocate COM
promise on law enforcement.
POINTS TO STATE LAWS.
Practically all Of the States
have adopted a States standard
in enforcement similar to, or
more stringent than that con-
tanned in the national act. To
advise the Federal Government
to compromise when the States
have already set as high or a
higher standard is indefensible
and inconsistent on the part Of
those who have advocated State
rights in order to protect liquor
traffic before We had national
prohibition.
Lawlessness has decreased in
practically every State in the
union. In one State, Connecticut,
where comparison of figures for
the last three wet years and the
first three dry years have been
made public, the decreased ratio
Of crime to the population means
over 10000 fewer arrests in the
State: 23,144 fewer county Jail
commitments and 30,263 fewer
commitments to State prisons
and other penal institutions
during the three dry years than
would have been the case had
the average ratio per 100, 900 of
the population during the three
wet years continued during the
three dry years.
T