Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
VETS OPEN DRIVE
AGAINST DRY LAW;
21TO CARRY ON FIGHT
CONTINUED from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
Jersey: Rev. DR.. James Empringham
Of New York, and many others. Pro
hibition was charged by various
speakers with breaking down the
morals of the youth, with infringing
upon the constitutional liberty of the
people. with diverting revenue from
Government. underground" to the
thief and bootlegger, with corrupting
not only social, but political life in
America and with violating both the
spirit of George Washington and the
true Interpretation OF Christianity.
500 Take Part In Banquet.
Among the more than 500 diners at
, the banquet last night. of whom about
half were women, there were four
United States Senators-Edge, Ed.
wards. Bruce and Bayard-and sew
eral members of the House.
Enthusiasm broke forth not only in
loud applause but in hearty cheers at
both sessions, and it was during the
afternoon, with the meeting packed to
the doors with men and women, that
the spirit of the occasion at times burst
into the fervor Of a political cam
paign. with whole groups Of the as
sembly leaping TO their feet, shouting
and waving flags. The Maryland dele
cation was responsive to Maryland
speakers and at one time during a
pause big voice doomed out from
the back of the court, Whats the
matter with Ritchie?" Both sessions
were colorful and lively affairs, with
frequent caustic references to the
Anti-Saloon League and it's politics, u
always provoking laughter or jeers.
Prohibition was Uncle Sans war
bride. He married in haste. Now he
| Is repenting at leisure
This remark by the Rev. DR.. EN-.
pringham. national secretary of the
Church Temperance Society of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, whose
recent espousal of the cause of modi-
f1cation created a sensation, proved
one OF the popular keynotes of the
two sessions, several speakers refer
ring to the idea
Mr.. Hill charged that during the
war the "Anti.Saloon League was
playing politics, while the rest of us
were a-tiptoe to win the war"
Reads Beer Recipe.
Announcing that both he and Mr..
Stayton may be facing the local
jail for violation of the Volstead act,
Mr.. Hill called attention to George
Washtngton's recipe for small beer"
printed in the elaborate menu-pro.
gram for the evening, and read the
entire recipe in a clear voice.
Waving aloft two pamphlets of the
Department Of Agriculture, Mr.. Hill
told his auditors that if they were
| in danger" in taking home the print.
ed recipe, so was the Secretary of Ag-
riculture for printing the directions
for making ''unfermented grape
Juice" The difference, however. Mr.,
Hill pointed out was that the Score
tary said to keep the bung in the
barrel. while George Washington
said TO leave the bung open"
washington was no small-bottle
man." said Mr.. Hill; he made 80
gallons at time" Some Of the
recipe was reproduced facsimile in
Washington's handwriting.
Urges Concerted Action.
Senator Edge, protesting that it was
no violation of the law to attempt to
perfect the law" declared that the
'Voistead act and the eighteenth
amendment are the colossal failures
OF the age. Any act" he added
which has brought in its trail wide
corruption in public service. increased
alcoholic drunkenness. insanity and
deaths, homes transferred into bar.
rooms, taught young boys and girls
the use OF the flask, unknown before
prohloltlon, and melted general dis.
regard for all law, cannot be success.
| fully defended"
calling upon his hearers to arouse
puollc sentiment and present a con.
crete proposition for amendment of
Ia" and amendment of the eighteenth
amendment" Senator Edge declared
('nn0raG0
pano OF vets small band of men
sincerely dry and an army in between
waiting to hear some word from the
States. A nationwide referendum
lne speaker thought, would result in
an overwhelming verdict for common.
sense sanity and decency" Congress
VIII never act, he said, until the peo.
PIE OF this great Nation demand that
| they act" '--'
many persons who are talking about
the eighteenth amendment not being
eIuorced' according to Mrs. Norton
are denying the fourteenth and fit.
teenth amendments. They say" she
explained. ut Is not the custom to
ENFORCE the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments in the South, and
/ would reply, then, If 1 reasoned on
| the same basis, that 1t would not be
the custom to enforce the eighteenth
! amendment In the North!
| The most serious question arising
from this contempt of law" said Mrs
Norton, is the harm that is being
done to our boys and girls, mentally
and physically
Approves Temptations.
DR.. Empringham declared that pro
hibition Is wrong In principle, but so
| long as 1t Is the law it must be
| obeyed. God breaks mans prohibit.
ton law every moment by fermenta.
ton. because God wants us to live
In the midst of temptations, where
! character can be developed by diff
| culties. Adam and Eve would
never have noticed that apple tree in
| the middle of the Garden of Eden If
| 1t hadn't been prohibited"
| Revenues formerly going to the
Government. DIR. Empringham said
by virtue Of prohibition were now
being diverted to cutthroats and
| thieves" instead of being used to re.
lieve the tax burden on American peo-
! pie. This law" said DIR. Empring.
ham. insults our Lord Jesus Christ"
Matthew Woll, vice president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, made
an appeal for a return to considera-
ton Of the inherent rights of free
people" under the Constitution. de.
claring these rights were being tram