New Britain herald., 1924-05-08
FIGHT FOR BEER IS
 BITTERLY OPPOSED
Wheeler Leads Cohorts Against
 Modification Of 18th
ANOTHER SPEAKS FOR IT
Francis (. Harley of National Liberal Alliance Urges Modification, Saying He Represents Seven Million Voters of |. $.

He Represents seven Million Voters
 of |. $.
 Washington, May S.-Modification of the prohibition laws was vigorous ly opposed today by delegation headed by Wayne B. Wheeler general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League, which appeared before the house ju- dietary committee. The committee has under consideration number of bills which would permit 2,75 per cent beer.
 Foes of prohibition use these bills as camouilage in order to make i'm possible the enforcement of the 18th amendment" Wheeler charged.
 At the opening of the hearing. Francis C. Harley, chairman of the National Liberal Alliance, former mayor of Astoria, Oregon, wound up the argument for modification, declar- ing he spoke for seven million peo- pie who registered their ballots through a referendum of his organi- zation. If allowed to vote on the question the vast majority of the peo- pie of the whole country, he said, would vote for modification.
 Clash Between Two.
 clash between Representative Perlman and Wheeler occurred when the dry leader took the stand, Perl man charged that Wheeler had inject cd religious issue into a memoran- dunn which he had prepared on a pro- hibition.measur and had later strick- en it ont. Wheeler was about to submit memorandum on the beer bill when Perlman objected.
 MT. Wheeler" he said, in a pre- sious memorandum made a vicious attack which was unwarranted and later he withdrew it."
 Pressed for details, rerlman quot ed what he said was a memorandum on the Crawton bill by Wheeler in which certain clements were ac- cnsed ot not obeylng the prohibition law.
 Ma, submit Record. .....
 "I challenge that statement" Wheeler replied. and Representative Dyer, republican,, Missouri, appealed to the chairman to rule the dDcussion ont Of order. Chairman Graham, however. held ,bat WhAclet could submit his records to the sornnlittce,
 "Wheclcr will say in siai emen' what he would not dare to say before inc committee and submit to cross examination" perlman in,erjected,
 "some one else struck out the state- ment." Wheeler put in. "The commit tee has had the record. shall he glad 10 submit 10 questioning on an, statement at, any time" .E.
 Chairman Graham then ruled that Wheeler could proceed with a sum mary Of his statement and submit ihe statement itself to the committee for consideration later
 Opposes 2.7s Beer !.
 Wheeler delivered an onslaught against c.75 beer.
 why should congress favorably consider legalizing 2.75 per cent beer when three-fourihs Of the states for bid it?" he asked. This is another species or nulllnca1oh.
 Beer caused much Of the crime, in- sanity and pauperism of the saloons patrons in the past" Wheeler asserted "Brewery- saloons were ccnters of vice and corruption. When we stop- ped the legal sale of beer, the death, poverty and crime ratios fell to the equivalent Of S73,000 fewer deaths, 5000, ,O00 fewer arrests for drunlsen- ness and 74 per cent drop in pover- ty due 10 intemperance in the four dry years. ....
 If VIC present millions of dollars in profits 10 the brewers who have been breaking the law repeatedly. We put a premium on defiance of law and surrender to law breakers. Congress is obliged 10 pass laws to enforce the eighteenth fJtendment. The standards or the Nolstead act make that enforcement possible. With 2.15 per cent been enforcement would be defeated just as it was in the states where it was tried in the past.
 "who represents the brewers at this hearing on a proposed law which would give them millions Of dollars profit each year at the expense of the health. wealth. peace and happiness of the nation"
 We are here" iite statement said 'fo protest against any modification of the so-called yoistead law, which will make legal greater alcoholic content of intoxicating beverages and to ask that nothing be left undune to secure adeouate and uniform enforcement of the laws.
 Netio1ists opposition
 "The general conference Of the Methodist Episcopal church is the highest legislative body of that de- nomination and is representative of 1s.oo0, ,ooo constituents. It is the firm belief. of this group that the prohibi- ton. law was enacted by due and or derIy processes of government aftes a century of gradual development of sentiment. They ssel that the propo- siiion to nulIify the constitutional amendment by 1,gaiizing the sale of wine and beer Is an appeal from or deriy legislative and executive pro- cesses Co law defiance and anarchy.
 "The prohibition hw was the result of the total and universally recognized failure of the license system. failure for which the beer trade was in large
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