Evening star., 1926-04-09
WINES AND BEER
URGED, SALOON HIT.
BY LABOR CHIEFS
"2.75" Brew. With 18 Per
Cent Vinous Product. De-
manded at Hearing.
SP0KESMEN DECLARE
25,0OO,OOO BACK THEM
volstead Act Driving People From
Temperance to Nation of Whisky
Drinkers, They Say.

appea ring today before the Senate sun
committee of the judiciary committee
inquiring into proposals for the mod'
ification OF prohibition. delivered
scorching Indictment against the Vol
stead law and the futiltN Of its en-
forcement: denounced those people
who are always eager to improve the
peoples conduct by statutes instead
. Of by example; stood rock solid
against the reopening OF the saloon,
and pleaded with the committee TO
give the working man glass of beer
and wine with his meals.
The voices Of %. 900 600 people We're
declared represented before the COM
nttee through six authorized spokes-
men who colorfully portrayed their
case for the edification and amuse-
ment Of the committee and spectators.
who, since the sessions were opened,
have hacked the little witness room
uncomfortably. The plea for the re
turn Of 2.75 per cent beer and wine OF
Is per cent. was argued on the ground
that the wage-earner does not IKE
hard LIQUOR: that 90 per cent of them
will ignore 1t and that hrewerles. dls-
tilIeries and wineries will be aoohsheo
from the homes.
The witnesses in order of their ap-
resrance. were: William Roberts
renresentinr President William Green
of the American Federation OF LABOR
William J. McSorley. president OF the
building trades department Of the
federation; Andrew Fururseth' presl
dent OF the Seamens International
Union: James O'Connell, president oil
the mutual trades department; john
=, FREY. president OF the Ohio state
Federation of Labor and Henry |.
Helfers. secretary of the New Jersey
Federation Of Labor.
Says Demand Is Wide.
Mr.. Roberts declared the American
Federation OF Labor. through It's
various federations and affiliated Or
sanizations, was in an excelient
position to feel the pulse of the people
on the prohibition question ana the
sentiment among wage earners is ao
solutely opposed TO the present con-
ditions. He said in 1923 and 1924 he
travelled 10000 miles with the late
President Samuel Gompers. and every
where he went he found criticism OF
the Volstead act.
"The homes of people were turned
into breweries and distilleries. he as
serted. "and the people asked us
when Is Congress going 10 reahze
that beer makes for irue temperance.
The greatest complaint II the people
was that they were forced 10 drink
oil kinds of concoctiCnS supposed TO
he whisky. don't remember tIns'
when prohibition was not discussed
in smoking compartments If trains
end in the hotels and all were in favor
Of modification or repeal OF me act.
The wage earners. continued the
witness. don't believe the Folstead act
is true Interpretation of the eight
eenth amendment. He cited the vari-
Gus stands taken by The American
Federat ton in annual conventions for
modification and also read letters
written by Mr.. Gompers and MI.
Greene to Presidents Wilson and Cool
idge for modification.
at is the opinion OF the American
Federation of Labor that the country
Is drifting nearer, and rearer 10 n
whisky-drinking Nation. Modification
is stable and solid movement and
not fash in the pan. The witness
said since 1919, when the federation
a half dozen letters have been received
In protest" He further declared there
never has been any protest from the
State federations or local unions.
Fight volstead Act Only.
Would the consumption of hard
liquor and the installation of stills in
the homes he minimized II the
Nolstead act is modified" asked
Senator Reed of Missouri.
II haven't the least doubt Of it."
the witness replied.
Then the federation is not oppos-
Ing the eighteenth amendment?
asked Senator Harreld Of Oklahoma.
mo, only the Volstead act said
Mr.. Roberts.
Representing 900 900 men in the
building trades department. Mr.. Nc.
Sorley testified he was authorized to
report that his organization "favors
modification of the Nolstead act and
are in favor of law that will give
to the working men of this country
light wines and beer. They believe
the present law is unjust and they
can't be shown the equity and justice
when rich man who had sufficient
capital to supply his cellars can drink
until the stock goes out and the
working man Is deprived of the right
TO drink glass of beer. The build
ing tradesmen want 2.75 per cent
heer and IL to ls per cent light wines,
the witness declared. =
II don't believe 2.75 beer would hurt
any one" the witness added. Pointing
to the failure OF the law 70 work
out Mr.. McSorley declared in one
Ohio County the district attorney has
had to compel justices OF the peace to
resign because they were 'co-Operat-
ing with agents who were shaking
down people"
Says Beer Would Satisfy.
Senator Reed wanted to know just
how beer and light wines would aid
in the comforts of life.
Give us our beer and we will be
perfectly satisfied" he replied.
What effect is hard liquor and the
bootleggers having on the people?"
asked Senator Reed
Anybody with any sense at all can
see what Is going on" answered Mr..
McSorley. and the witness room tit.
tered. IF the people get beer they
wouldn't touch whisky
Then II they got beer. II would
minimize whisky"
Absolutely there is no question
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