Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-16
DRY LEADERS SEE
!. ELECTION VICTORY
Three Quarters Of Primary
Nominees Rated Rum Foes.
QUESTIONABLE Cited.

Calls to battle. issued hy ivy" great
prohibition organizations OF thu
country, the Anti Saloon Lea cue
and the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union, today declared conf
dence in dry victories at the coming
elections.
At the same time the results OF 9
national referendum" taken by the
National Economic League, showing
prevailing dry sentiment, were
made public.
Ouestionnaires were submitted by
the Economic League to $500 repre-
sentative men and women, and 1903
were returned.
Of the total 50 per cent were ir
favor Of retaining the eighteenth
amendment, while ~ per cent favored
its repeal. Four per cent did not
vote on this question. the league
says. adding:
Against Nolstead Act.
ION the Iolstead act. however. the
vote resulted in a defeat for the
enforcement act. since only 43 per
cent Of those who voted We're in
favor either Of retaining it or re
Enforcing it. while - per cent We're
found TO be in favor either OF modl-
fcation or repeal. tNine per cent
wished to have il retained as ii is.
81 per cent were in favor oil reiii-
forcing II by more effective pfoFl-
sions, % per cent were in FAVOR on
modification. and 80 per cent de-
manded total repeal. Five per cent
did not Notr.t
Other questions voted on show a
further division of opinion regarding
the EolSt ead act. For example. Only
80 per cent. in event of repeal of the
act. were in favor Of leaving local
enforcement to the states. III per
cent being opposed and "a per cent
not voting.
I'm the event of modification, like
wise. not over 81 per cent of the
voters favored any one of four pro
posals suggested for dealing with me
question Of alcoholic content. Five
hundred and eighty eight 81 per
cent? believed that Congress should
define the words Intoxicating
liuuor for beverage purposes III the
eighteenth amendments. so as to ap-
plv TO distilled liquor only, and not to
fermented beverages such as beer
and wine.
Views On Percentage.
"Onlv Is per cent think that the
question of whether any particular
beverage IS. in fact. intoXica ting
should be left to court and jury.
Twenty-one per cent believe that
each State should he permitted To
determine hy legislation the limit Of
alcoholic content permissible under
the eighteenth amendment. While ~
per cent favor a Federal statute hN-
ing a ma Ximum alcoholic content
permissible under the constitutional
amendment. but allowing the le2is-
lature of each state [" fix its own
percentage of alcoholic content With
I'm the maximum.
con the tlue stiuu as to how high n
percentage OF alcoholic content under
the eighteenth amendment should be
permitted or allowed. an average vote
Of per cent for beer and per cent
for wines was obtained from 1919 t32
per cent? of the voters who suggested
various percentages.
Results Of the primary elections in
the first % States which have held
congressional contests. have indicated
no reaction against prohibition, Wayne
r. Wheeler. general counsel of the
Anti Saloon League Of America, de-
clared in his statement.
Three fnurths Are Dry.
More than 80 per cent of the Rep
resentatives and more than 50 per
cent of the Senators nominated in
those districts and States where the
nomination ordinarily means an cleo
ton Mr. Wheeler said, ARE candi
dates who stand for the maintenance
and enforcement Of prohibition.
This is the best referendum this