The Washington times., 1926-03-10
]. POLL 0NDRT
| Nv URGED

HostiIities flared forth today
along the entire length of the
wet-and- dry front.
While the Senate wrsngled over
the question Of open hearings on
the issue, two members Of Con
gress, Representatives Somers and
Black, both Democrats Of New
York, came forth with attacks al
existing conditions and sugges-
tions for cure.
Representative Somers proposed
q national, official referendum on
whether the American people are
satisfied with the VoIstead law.
Representative Black proposed
that President Coolidge should
bluntly tell the country.of existing
conditions and take the leadership
in modification campaign.
Money Wasted Like water
President Coolidge said Black.
IL spending the public money IKE
water 50 that the public will drink
nothing else. What q tremendous
waste Of the public funds is he re.
sponsible for, because he dares not,
for political considerations, tell the
country the plain truth on this
question in straight, New England
way.
Nobody IL In a better position
to know the conditions surrounding
prohibition enforcement than Presi.
dent Coolidge. He must realize that
he does not and cannot live up 10
his oath of office $50 far as the Vol
stead act is concerned. IT is plain
~ his duty to let the American
people know that the law cannot
be enforced and to take the leader
ship in modification campaign"
SonIers' resolution would author.
ize printing OF a sufficient number
Of sample ballots so that every
registered voter in the United States
could express an opinion on the dry
law. They would be issued to Rep
resentatives who would determine
whether a, poll of sentiment in his
district was advisable,
Plan for Referendum
"The time has come ! said
Somers, when the people them
selves should be permitted to de-
eide whether they want a continu.
ance OF the present conditions. The
referendum provides a method by
which the Representative may as
certain the decision of their con.
stituents on this question"
The Somers' ballot would ask the
following question: y
shall the National Prohibition
Act commonly known as the Vol.
stead Act be amended so as to
authorize the manufacture trans
portation and sale Of non-intoxicat-
ing beverages, the alcoholic con-
tent of which does not exceed 2.75
per centum by weight in the case
Of beer, and six per centum by
weight in the case Of wine, buG
with the provision that no such |
beverage shall be consumed upon |
the premises where purchased or
obtained"
Somers said the only expense con. |
nected with the referendum would |
be the cost of printing the ballots
and envelopes. which would be |
sent through the mails under the |
usual ranking privileges of Re-
representatives..
issue Talked Everywhere
Black pointed out in his state
ment that the Wet-Dry issue has
not died down,
I'm smoking compartments. CT
pullman trains, two discussions only
are in order: Prohibition and Flor
ida" he said. "As to prohibition,
there is a seething public unrest
bordering on outright rebellion.
Those charged with governing had.
best realize the temper Of the govs
erned in the matter and make a
move toward modification and
I'm many of the Senatorial
primaries, the wer and dry ques
ton will be the predominating
issue. No wonder President Cool
idge's advisers warn him against
helping his Senatorial satellites.
"The Republican party is In con-
troll OF both the Executive and
Legislative branches Of government
and must take responsibility for
In the liquor traffic. 1t
is time for the President, as the
leader of his party. to straighten
out his party followers. It Is time
for the White House to let the
people have its point OF view on
the outstanding issue before u.s."