The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-01-29
FIERY old MAN FLAYS
A GEORGIA COLLEAGUE
REPRESENTATIVE SHERWOOD
HITS AT UPSHAW AND MA
TIONAL PROHIBITION.
BRANDISHES FLASK ON FLOOR
Venerable Ohio Congressman Calls
Dry Law a Failure, and Asserts
Anti-Saloon League Makes False
Promises. More Narcotics.

Dry Law a Failure, and Asserts
Anti-Saloon League Makes False
Promises. More Narcotics.
WASHINGTON. - F1ourishing an
empty flask and assailing the activ-
tiles OF the Anti-Saloon League and
Representative Upshaw, democrat of
Georgia, Representative Sherwood,
democrat OF Ohio, 88-year-old veteran
OF the house of representatives told his
colleagues that "up to 1924 it is gen.
orally conceded that prohibition en-
forcement officers have failed to en-
force the law" and also charged that
the use of narcotics had increased
enormously since enactment OF the
dry laws.
Declaring that when he was only
y years old he had signed temper
ance pledge and would vote for no
law which tolerates Intoxicating liquor
! as a beverage" he insisted that
prohibition has failed to prohibit al
though it has cost the taxpayers "over
a thousand million dollars in revenue
in the last two years"
Failure Conceded, He Says.
THE president comedies the failure
to enforce the law when he asks for
an appropriation of $20000,000 by con-
gress to build fleet of vessels to en-
force the law on the Atlantic coast
only" he said
He cited figures to show that there
was mounting consumption of Brit
ish liquors in the United States plac-
ing the 1923 exports from that coun-
try at 25.000000 gallons, compared
with 100000 gallons the year pre-
vious.
"Since the passage by congress OF
the Volstead act" said Mr.. Sherwood,
there has been a large increase IN
booze drinking among young men and
young girls. 1t has become a menace
to orderly society. Young men who
never INDUCED in liquor before are
now carrying TASKS in hip pockets,
loaded with moonshine or bootleg
whiskey, and young girls are induced
TO drink the vile stuff in dance halls
! and automobiles parked along lone
some roads. 1t is a moral menace now
and it is growing worse.
When the eighteenth amendment
was proposed. he asserted, the Anti
Saloon League promised that It
"would reduce crime to the minimum,
would largely reduce the divorce
evil" would abolish drunkenness
would make for business prosperity
bv inducing the earnings OF the indus.
trial classes to go into homes instead
of into intoXicants, and Would
empty our jails and penitent1aries-
AssaiIs Upshaw.
"After four years of experience. ne
said. 1--WE find that not one single
promise has been kept. Crime has IN
creased 40 per cent, divorces in some
50 cities have increased IS per cent
and murders have increased 40 per
cent. And worse than all the calami-
ties that have happened since the Vol
stead act is the fearful record OF the
done hends. or narcotic addicts, now
numbering nearly 1,0O0,0O0 victims
as reported by the highest medical ex-
perts."
with "skyrocket oratory, Mr. Sner,
wood said his Georgia colleague had
failed to point out single oehent 10
either an individual or the state be
cause of prohibition This bold att1-
tude required the gall of curmugeon
and the audacity of a Chinese bandit
he declared, characterizing Mr.. Up
shaw as "the reincarnation OF the ola
| Puritans of the seventeenth century
who hung Quakers in Connecticut ana
! burned witches in Massachusetts,
Anti-Saloon League Un-Christian-
IF the Anti-Saloon League should
induce this congress to amend the Vol
| stead act by adding the Il amend
ments suggested by the gentleman
from Georgia he added, 1T would be
the end OF personal liberty in the
United States"
/ The means employed in bringing
about adoption of the eighteenth
amendment were described by the
Ohio representative as unfair and dis
reputable" =, ~
Pointing out that Nevada, with IL
047 population, had an equal voice IN
ratifving the amendment with New
York. despite that the latter state has
a population of 1884, IA, he charged
that "the Anti-Saloon League is not
Christian in its methods, "but is vim
dictive. vengeful and mercenary, and
"bv its drastic methods of trying to
enforce the Volstead act has Matched
the biggest crop of lawbreakers that
ever afflicted any community.