Evening star., 1926-04-11
WOMEN'S LEADERS
WILL HIT BACK At
VETS TOMORROW
Nine, Representing Millions.
to Fight Against Dry
Act Change.
FOES or PROHIBITION
CONTINUE TUESDAY
ii Hours Still Remain for Pre-
senting Their Case-Polish Priest
to Tell of What He Has Seen.

The atmosphere Of room 224, Sen
ate Office Building, which during the
past week has been wringins wet
with arguments before the judiciary
subcommittee inquiring into modlhca-
ton Of the Nolstead act, Will be as
arid as Arizona tomorrow when rep
reeentatives of nine national Wom-
ems organizat tions march up to the
witness table and take an unalteraole
stand against the return Of intoXlcat-
inc liquor in any form.
Indications at the outset of yester-
days hearing were that the second
week of the subcommittee meeting
would bring more proponents of Vol
stead modification before 1t to relt-
'eIate contentious previously made
that the prohibition law is a failure
and beer and light wines must be
given to the people. Senator Walsh,
Democrat, Montana, acting chairman,
however, upset the plan by announc-
ing the promise made q the drys
that they would be given tomorrow
to present part of their case, must be
u. y
the vets, agreed to suspend for the
one day and he was informed the wet
arguments could be resumed Tuesday
and continue for the IL. hours still
due them.
Wayne Is. Wheeler, general counsel
of the Anti-Saloon League and field
marshal of the dry army, announced
after Yesterdays session that the day
had heen turned over to the women S
organizations, who are in the city for
the law enforcement meeting. AT the
headquarters of the convention last
night it was stated Mrs. Henry w.
Peabody, national chairman of the
National Woman's Committee for Law
Enforcement, and representing 12,OO0,-
000 women through the United States,
would be one of the principal wit
nesses.
Represent Large Groups.
The names of the others could not
be furnished owing to the fact that
those tentatively selected to testify
had not yet arrived in the city for the
convention, which opens today. Those
who do appear, however. 1t was ex:
planned, will represent the attitude of
such organizations as the General
Federation Of Women's Clubs, the Ma
tional Congress of Mothers and Par
ent-Teacher Associations and the
young Women's Christian Association.
. Mr.. Codman's program, which he
intended to produce tomorrow, VIII
be given the committee Tuesday. 1t
includes testimony by Father Fran
els Kasazeen, a Polish priest of Haga
Notch, LuZerne County, Pa, who,
Mr. Goldman said, will take the stand
not as a clergyman, but as an eye
witness of conditions in the anthra-
city coal fields. Following the
/ priests appearance, Stanley Shirk OF
e'the Moderation League of New York
will tell how he gathered statistics
of the recent Nationwide poll taken
by the league on the liquor question.
Lincoln c. Andrews, Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury in charge Of
prohibition enforcement, also Will be
recalled and Mr.. Goldman. "as attor-
ney for 30,000.900 people in this
cause" will sum up his case with
closing argument of 10 minutes du-
ration.
The testimony of two prominent
leaders in the wet movement in Mani
toba and Quebec yesterday, wound up
a week of eloquent, forceful and
sometimes humorous arguments
gainst the Volstead law and for modi-
sentatives. Sir William Stavert, for
mer member of the Quebec govern
mental liquor control commission, and
Francis William Russell, president OF
the Moderation League of Winnepeg
Manitoba. drew the undivided atten-
1ion of the committee members and
produced more interest among them
on the subjects testified to, than per-
haps any other persons who have
taken the stand.
Sought Data OH Canada.
The committee was exceedingly
anxious to learn all the details of
the two laws governing liquor in those
provinces. They differ only in the re-
spect that Quebec permits the drink
ing of light wines and beer in taverns
and restaurants whereas Manitoba
Hoes not. Copies of the laws, statis-
tics showing its effect and reports of
the league were filed with the record.
( Both witnesses declared the best
people" in Quebec and Manitoba are
satisfied with the present law; that
NJ has resulted in reducing crime; it
has increased the revenue for public
improvements, and above all, has
driven the hootlegger into the dry
provinces. -Four provinces now are
sn the dry column, they said. with
one of this number about to turn wet
Prohibition in Manitoba was voted
for in 1916 by the people Of Manitoba
Mr.. Russell said. and in 1919 they
began very much to regret thei.' &C.
tion. They were filled with the feel.
Eng that prohibition was affecting the
bmoral and economic condition of the
country.
Blames Crime on Prohibition.
"The province was covered with a
network Of stills. After two years OF
the law there were 40 convictions for
stills, and in 1928 there We're 800. The
stills were debauching the towns, vii.
lagos and hamlets. The psychopathic
wards were filled with wrecks of hu.
manity who had drunk liquor from
- fancy bottles and the young people
went wild.
Crime? We were told that pro.
hibition would remove Ii. We never
had so much crime as after we got
prohibition. Bandits descended on
villages and we had the same crime
waves YOU are having now. Thank
God, I'VE haven't got it now 1t was
the result of the rum-:unners and
bootleggers."
Sir William told the committee the
conclusion of his people was that lit
was better to remove the traffic in
liquor from the hands of bootIeggers
and put it in the control of the gov.
ernment. Dry laws cannot bring
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