Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-10
DEMAND BEER
Continued from Page One)

ing trades union; Andrew Furuse:h,
president of the International Sea-
mems Union; James O'Connell,
president of the Metal Trade Work
ers' Association; John p. Frye. presi-
dent of the Ohio State Federation of
Labor. and Henry f. Hilfers, secre-
tary Of the New Jersey state FEEDER
alton of Labor.
One by one they painted a gloomy
picture of the situation under Vol
stead prohibition, with workmen and
others brewing terrible connections
in their homes in an effort to obtain
the beer which it was declared they
wanted. Corruption in enforcement
in Ohio and other places and nation
wide disregard for the law also were
emphasized.
The labor officials were unanimous
in the opinion that the legalizing of
light wines and beer would remove
home brewing and the demand for
the stuff bootleggerS now peddle as
well as make for Improvement in
general law enforcement conditions.
Reformers generally came in for
sharp assault, Mr.. Roberts asserting
that the defenders of the Volstead act
apparently prefer to see the people
seriously affected by vicious con-
coctions of liquor rather than make
this temperance country by legal
izing the manufacture of light
beers"
Mr.. Furuseth, in scoring ire
formers" declared that history had
demonstrated that morals could not
be legislated into the people, while
Mr.. Frey said that methods used,
such as employing women as lures"
in seeking violators of the dry laws,
had brought 1.-The Anti Saloon League
and the Volstead act into disrepute."
Reciting personal observations OH
the frequent tours of the country
they make in connection with their
official duties, Roberts and O'Connell
declared prohibition was the one
topic in which persons in all walks
of life are interested and they assert
ed that the demand for modification
of the law was increasing.
Mr.. Roberts declared that "the
present uprising of those opposed to
the Volstead act is a stable, solid
movement" adding:
"Give the people a chance to vote
on this issue and there is no doubt
of the result"
All of the labor officials declared
against the return of the saloon.
O'Connell and Furuseth particularly
emphasized this point, the latter say
ing there had been a general mis-
understanding as to organized la
boris attitude.
Picturing conditions in Jersey. Mr.
Hllfers said that where there used
to be "a saloon on every corner, as
the old saying was, now there is a
brewery or distillery" in every home
He told of community distilling,
I AefI H..
to buy materials and the distiller
distributed the finished product pro
rata.
Another point on which the labor
officials appeared to be unanimous
was that the present law could not
be enforced. They contended that
the human appetite for intoxicants
would, be served and O'Connell de-
clared that the federal government,
could not bring about real prohibit
ton mo matter how much money
you spend nor how many additional!
laws you pass"
All of the labor officials on hand
could not be heard in the two hours
allotted today and some of those
who did not get on the stand may
be called later. Tomorrow the vets
Will call former officials in Canada
to describe the operations of the
Quebec plan" of government con-
troll of the manufacture and distri-
button of liquor.
At the conclusion of the fifth day
OF the hearings, Senator Edge, Re-
publican. New Jersey, a leader in
the wet movement, issued q formal
statement declaring that the con-
tention that the vets had made
that prohibition was uncomfortable
and thus failure has been clearly
and definitely established"
IF the opposition gets anywhere
they must refute these facts and not
as in the past defend the law by
exhortauon or evasion. The coun-
try Is now too we'll enlightened and
facts alone will be considered"