Evening star., 1924-05-08
MODIFIED DRY LAW
PROPOSALS FOUGHT
Prohibition Advocates Appear Be-
fore House Judiciary
Committee.
WAYNE B. WHEELER SPEAKS
Says Measures Are Planned to
Make Enforcement Harder.

do0incatfon or the prohibition laws
was vigorously opposed today by a
delegation headed by Wayne B.
Wheeler before the House judiciary
committee. The committee has under
consideration a number of bills which
would permit 2.75 per cent beer.
Foes of prohibition use these bills
as camoufiage in order to make i'm
possible the enforcement of the
eighteenth amendment" Wheeler
charged.
At the opening of the hearing
Francis C. Harley, chairman of the
National Liberal Alliance, former
mayor of Astoria, Greg, wound up
the argument for modification, de-
claring he spoke for 100000 people
who registered their ballots through
a referendum OF his organization. If
allowed to vote on the question the
vast majority of the people of the
whole country, he said, would vote for
modification.
Statement Disputed.
tilt occurred between Represen-
tative Foster, Republican, Ohio, and
the witness over the voting on modi-
f1cation in Michigan and Ohio, Foster
challenging the statement that bal
lots had been taken in boxes placed
in churches. Harley was authorized
to submit evidence later.
Mrs. Ella A. Boole, the first witness
Ior the drys, representing the
Womens Christian Temperance Union,
asserted the belief that the bills be-
fore the committee could be traced to
the association against the prohibi-
ton amendment but when this state
ment was questioned by Representa-
tive Periman, New York, she admitted
that she had no direct evidence to
support her statement.
Charges Injection of Religion.
clash between Representative
Perlman and Wheeler occurred when
the dry leader took the stand. PERL
man charged that Wheeler had in
jected a religious issue into a MEM
orandum which he had prepared on
a prohibition measure and had later
stricken 1t out. Wheeler was about
to submit a memorandum on the
beer bill when Perlman objected.
Mr.. Wheeler he said. "in a pre-
Vlous memorandum made a vicious
attack, which was unwarranted, and
later he withdrew it"
Pressed for details Periman quoted
What he said was memorandum on
certain elements were accused of
not obeying the prohibition law.
challenge that statement"
wheeler replied. and Representative
Dyer, Republican, Missouri, appealed
70 the chairman to rule the discussion
out of order.
Chairman Graham. however, held
that Wheeler could submit his record
to the committee
Wheeler will say in a statement
the committee and submit to cross
examination" Perlman interjected.
Some one else struck out the state
Inent, Wheeler put in. The commit
tee has had the record. / shall be
glad to submit to questioning on any
statement at any time"
Chairman Graham then ruled that
Wheeler could proceed with a sum-
mary of his statement. and submit
the statement itself to the committee
for consideration later.
Wheeler delivered an onslaught
against 2.75 per cent beer.
why should Congress favorably
consider legalizing 2.75 per cent beer
M6en Sd S fourth Of the states for
species of notification"
Wheeler Raps Brewers.
Beer caused much OF the crime, in
sanity and pauperism Of the saloons
patrons in the past. Brewery owned
saloons were centers of vice and cor
ruption. When we stopped the legal
sale Of beer, the death, poverty and
crime ratios fell to the equivalent of
$4,000 fewer deaths. 100000 fewer
arrests for drunkenness and a a per
cent drop in poverty due to lntem-
nerance in the four dry years
"If we present millions of dollars In
urofits to the brewers who have been
breaking the law repeatedly, we put
a premium on defiance of law, and
surrender to lawbreakers. Congress
is Obliged to pass laws to enforce
the eighteenth amendment. The
standards of the VolStead act make
that enforcement possible. With 2.75
rer cent beer enforcement would De
defeated Just as it was in the states
where it was tried in the past.
s~Who represents the brewers at this
hearing on a proposed law which
wouid give them millions of dollars
profit each year at the expense OF the
health, wealth peace and happiness
of the nation?"