Evening star., 1926-03-12
Mcclellan Ready to Fire First
Gun for Liquor Foes in
Speech Today.
SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT
TO BE ASKED TOMORROW
Prohibition Backers to Call for
Chief Executives Aid in
Strengthening Law.

"Drys." in Congress and out.
aroused by the daily attacks of the
"wets" on Capitol Hill and elsewhere,
today prepared to take the offensive.
Senator McKellar of Tennessee.
strong advocate of prohibition, was
ready to deliver a speech in the Sen
ate eulogiZing the effects of prohibit
ton in the United States and criticiZ-
ing those who are in favor of repeal
or modification of the law.
Some of the dry" leaders outside
Of Congress have arranged to confer
with President Coolidge at the White
House tomorrow, among them VII
liam NJ. Forgrave of Boston. DIR. Ar
thur j. Barton of Kansas City and
A. II. Briggs of San Francisco.
Plan Counter-Attack.
The wide publication Of the results
its modification, which has been used
by members of Congress on the wet"
side, has brought about a determine
ton on the part of prohibition leaders
to conduct counter offensive.
The 'drys' hope TO win the support
of the President and will seek his
backing for legislation to strengthen
rather than modify. the existing
prohibition law.
The Senate judiciary committee this
afternoon announced the appointment
of a subcommittee Of five to consider
the advisability of holding hearings
at this session on the various pending
measures for modification Of the Vol
stead act.
The subcommittee consists of Sen
atorS Means. Republican, of Colo
rado; Goff. Republican. of West Vir-
ginia Harold. Republican, of Okla
homa; Reed. Democrat, Of Missouri,
and Walsh. Democrat, Of Montana.
The prohibitionists. it appears. are
more and more inclined to attack
officials of the government who have
been placed in charge of prohibition
enforcement under the pressure of
criticism alleging failure TO enforce
| the laws.
Bankers Letter Read.
The debate in the House yesterday
was enliyened by the reading of a let
ter by Representative Tinkham of
Massachusetts. which, he said, had
been received by Representative Up
shaw, Democrat. of Georgia, from NJ.
B. Wellborn, governor of the Federal
| Reserve Bank at Atlanta.
most every town in Georgia and
throughout the South" the letter said
adding that it lis not always good
Scotch. but native corn"
The letter read by Mr.. Tinkham and
signed by Mr.. Wellborn, said, in full:
MY Dear Mr.. Cpshaw: / am in
receipt of your telegram of March 3
requesting that l wire you general
statement concerning improved con-
ditions in business, morality and So
/ briefly in Atlanta and Georgia since
barrooms were banished.' Your tele-
gram came during my absence from
Atlanta. and as YOU expressed a wish
to have the information by noon on
March 3, l thought it useless to tele
graph you. so am writing instead.
when l came to Atlanta II years
ago to be with the Federal Reserve
Bank I found here many saloons that
sold beer exclusively. This appeared
to me to he a very good solution of the
prohibition question. and I was very
much surprised that within a short
time afterward the State legislated
these beer saloons out of existence.
They were we'll conducted and no
drunkenness or excessive drinking re.
suited from these saloons.
Sees No Improvement.
Regarding business. morality and
sobriety I'm Atlanta during these
years. I have seen very little improve
ment in that respect. I may say
that from what l learn. drinking is
almost universal, not only in Atlanta.
but in every town in Georgia. and
throughout the South. My observa-
ton is that it is not confined strictly
to the rich and well-to-do. but nearly
every family has whisky in its home.
ut may not be high.priced Scotch
whisky, but it is a very strong quail.
ity of native corn that is produced in
great volumes throughout this Sec
ton of the country.
II have seen statements published
Continued on Page ., Column 5)