Evening star., 1923-10-13

tContmued from Second Page)
poisonous stuff. calculated to kill. If
not Immediately. certainly within a
few years If used by liquor drinkers.
o. Per Cent Poisonous.
''Ninety-seven per cent of the liquor
seized by our agents has been shown
TO be poisonous when chemically an
alyzed,' said MIR. Haynes.
In his address Bishop Mcdowell
welcomed the delegates to Washing
ton, the capital OF the nation.
Every citizen of the United States
outside of the District Of Columbia
has two homes" said Bishop Mcdowell.
One where he pays or does not pay
his taxes, tie other this city, which
belongs to ali the people. The people
of Washington are proud tC welcome
you"
The crux of the prohibition enforce
ment problem lies, Commissioner
Haynes and other speakers today de-
olared, in bringing that class of So
called respectable citizens the bank
er who drinks at his club or in his
home, the business man who insists
upon having his drink in spite of the
law. to a realization Of their respon-
sibility.
At the opening OF the conference
this morning Fred B. Smith of New
York, Chairman Of the executive com
mittee, was chosen chairman of the
conference. and the appointment Of
various committees was approved by
the conference.
Questions to Answer.
Three questions presented them
selves, Mr.. Smith said, to the dele
gates at the outset of the conference.
First. Has constituted government in
the United States failed? Second.
Shall a minority-socially, mentally
and in every other way-be permitted
to defy great majority of the peo--
pie? Third. Has the people moral
sentiment enough and solidarity to
bring about enforcement of the law?
I'VE will not accept 2.15 per cent
beer any more than We will accept
2.75 per cent murder" said Mr.. Smith.
During the course of Commissioners
Haynes address, he remarked that in
twenty-three states it was not legal
to prescribe liquor for medicinal pur-
poses under the state laws and con-
stitutions.
"Amen"' sounded a loud voice from
the body of the delegates filling the
Raleigh ballroom, quickly followed
by general laughter and appause.
A survey of the facts regarding
prohibition was laid before the dele
gates by several speakers including
Rev. F. Ernest Johnson, DR.. Charles
steizle, DR.. c. A. Brooks and Prof.
Herbert n. Shenton.
Initiated by Churches.
The conference was initiated by
Joint action of the chairmen of the
commission on councils of churches
and the commission on temperance of
the Federal Council OF Churches of
Christ in America. The call for the
conference went out over the names
Of 756 influential men and women.
Among those attending the confer
ence are men and women prominent
In every walk of American life. gov
ernment officials. senators and repre-
sentatives, .churchmen, labor leaders.
Professional and business men,
The conference Is what it processes
TO be--a conference on citizenship by
the citizens of the country. The
meeting does not represent any par
ticular organization or society, but II
is being participated in by all those
religious, temperance and civic or
ganizations which have stood for good
citizenship in the past.
The call for the conference as
serted 1t was not the purpose to form
e. new national organizatfon-tha
enough organizations now exist. But
II also asserted that every effort Will
be made to have the recommendation
Of the conference translated into ac-
complishment. This may necessitate
the establishment of at least n skele-
ton organization to carry on the great
campaign of education proposed, even
though existing associations, leagues
and other organizations are used to
advance the work.
A Mighty EVIL.
"A mighty evil" said Bishop Nc
Dowell In his address, mad with its
own power. purple with its own greed
and red with it's own defiance of right
and law in doing its worst to destroy
civil liberty, religious freedom, or
der under law and the security of
any right under the flag. For If law
1essness at this point be not de-
stroyed 1t will destroy obedience to
Ia az a
the very nation itself.
I'VE have many laws that we do not
all or always like. but We have no
classes that are privileged to choose
obedience by their tastes or their
skill In defiance. Liberty under law
is matched by the fundamental prin-
ciple Of equality before the law.
We are within year of our supreme
duadrennial election. Usually we are
interested in measures and policies,
in taxes and tariffs, in finances and
And all this Is well, but our current
elections and our next great election
center is the essential principle of
government itself-law enforcement.
Therefore, as George William Cur
tbs said, half a century ago, there
must be no doubt about our leaders.
They must not prevaricate, or stand
in the fog or use the language of the
uemagOgCe TO deceive the pubic
while they seek public favor If they
are for the Constitution, let them be
for 1t, and not half way for it and
half way against 1t.
Not to Yield Victory.
We have had a long war to gain |
what we now have. We have not the |!
slightest intention of yielding now
the victory we have won in the long
struggle.
Let us here resolve that there shall !
be no compromise with lawIessness !!
and no notification of law anywhere |
within our borders.
I'VE have heard a good deal about |
making the world safe for democracy |
But lawless democracy is not safe |
for the world. Our task is the crea-
tive task of making a democracy that |
Is strong within itself and that can |
go anywhere"
PRESIDENT STANDS
F0UR-SQUARE FOR DRY (,
LAW, SAYS HAYNESI