Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-02
DEMANDS
DRY Referendum
Declares Vote of People Only
Indication of Sentiment
Toward Law.

The only way to settle the contro-
versy over prohibition and proposed
modification of the Volstead act, is
through a referendum of the people,
Senator Edwards Of New Jersey,
Democrat, declared today in q state
ment attacking the proposal Of Gen.
Andrews, Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury, that a commission be APP
pointed by the President to investt-
gate conditions under prohibition
1.-THE recommendation of Gen. An
drews is another dodge of the drys
to evade responsibility for present-day
lax and disgraceful enforcement meth
DDS" said Senator Edwards.
Secretary Mellon is unqueStionakly
correct when he says that every one
in the United States who wishes to
face the facts and know the truth Is
we'll informed concerning the farce OF
prohibition. Take it out of the con
troversiaI field Take it out of the
political field says Gen. Andrews.
You might just as well try TO take
fat from butter as to take prohlpl-
tion out of politics It was forced into
the political arena by the Anti-Saloon
League and allied bodies and the
league has been doing all that 1t can
do to keep it in politics.
Questions Andrews Statement.
THE purpose of Gen. Andrews is
most obvious If such q commission
were appointed, he could then go be-
fore the country and not only request,
but demand that the opponents OF pro
hibition give the commission probably
months to investigate the facts that
are now too patent to need lnVeStlga-
ton, and hereby silence the opposition
so that the dryS would be given an OPP
portunity to bolster up further the
losing cause. Those demanding light
wines and beer would be helpless in
a straight jacket of official procrasti-
nation and delay This is all that the
latest Andrews proposition amounts
to.
There is only one way to settle the
ouestiOn-a observation-disclosures the
people of the country themselves can
say whether or not they want light
wines and beers"
The public has made up It's mind for
or against prohibition, and n general
investigation of the subject would
have little effect, in the opinion of
Secretary Mellon. He does not share
the belief of Assistant Secretary An
dreWs, in charge of prohibition en-
forcement, that an inquiry by presi-
dental commission would impress the
people and assist the dry forces.
Plan Hearing on Dry Law.
Mr.. Andrews expressed hope that
the inquiry begun yesterday by the
House alcoholic liquor traffic commit
tee would lead to a recommendation
for appointment of the commission,
but his superior believes the public
now knows the facts concerning pro
hibition, and that il has access to all
the information which might be as
sembled by any commission.
The prohibition enforcement chief
will be the first witness called by the
House committee, probably next Mon
day, and Chairman Hudson has indi-
proposal for an investigation may be
adopted after the committee has COM
pleted it's preliminary inquiry.
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel
for the Anti-Saloon League, would
prefer that the committee do what in
vestigating IS decided upon, rather
than leave 1t to a presidential COM
mission. The House committee is
making an inquiry, he said, in a state
ment, land this is all that will be
done at this session.
However, the Senate judiciary COM
mittee will hear next Monday the pro-
posals of Senators Edge, Republican,
and Edwards, Democrat of New Jer-
sey, and Bruce, Democrat, Maryland,
for amendment of the Volstead act.
They will request general public
hearing by some committee on the
subject of enforcement.