Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-02
Precedent Is Shattered When
Only Water and Orange
ade Are Served.
FAMED HOSTS ABANDON
TRADITIONS OF YEARS
Salutary Influence of Hoover's
Regime Is Seen in Revolution
of Social Standards.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Washington during the Easter holi-
day was the scene of a remarkable and
epoch making victory for prohibition
At a stately home, for generation the
popular rendezvous of Capital society,
there was given, for the first time in
its history, a bone-dry breakfast party;
One hundred and fifty guests. constitut-
ing the most eminent possible cross
section of official and unofficial wash
ington life, sat down to meal lavish
in all respects except as to drink.
Only ice water and orangeade were
served. The party was voted brilliant
success. 1t turned out to be first
class surprise party" but the host and
hostess were the recipients on all hands
of hearty congratulations. They were
felicitated on their courage in smashing
a tradition long intrenched not only
in their own house. but in the houses
of countless other WaShingtonians OF
their social rank.
Innovation Stirs Talk.
The Capital is buzzing, as it is likely
to buzz for many days, with discussion
of both the cause and effect OF the
innovation. That it will prove con-
tagious in many of those upper class
homes of Washington, which are ac-
customed to serve liquor to guests, is
a widespread though not universal,
opinion. Everybody seems to feel that
at least worthy example has been set
in so conspicuous place that it cannot
possibly pass unnoticed or unimitated
When news of 1t trickles across the
country, confidence is expressed that
society" in many other cities will fol-
low the lead now given it in WASH
ington.
One of the foremost Federal officials
associated with prohibition enforcement
who happened to be guest at the
trail-blazing dry breakfast party-tells
this writer that nothing in years has
done SO much for "law observance" in
so-called higher circles" This official
described the action of the family in
question as fine, brave and WISE as
indicating the new spirit which is TAX
ing hold, perhaps tardiiy, of our
thoughtful citizens" and as "ushering
in new social standards in America
Hoover's Influence.
There is pretty general agreement
that 1t is the influence of President
Hoovers regime which led to the
Eastertide aw-observance revolution in
Washington. Four weeks ago, in his
inaugural address, Mr. Hoover sounded
a clarion call to his fellow citizens t6
join, by personal example, in the cru
Sade to check violation of laws. The
President singled out prohibition fol-
emphatic mention. "A large response
bility rests directly upon our citizens,
he said in discussing the enforcement
situation.
If the full contents of the White
House mail bag since March 4 could be
disclosed, the country would have ample
evidence that Mr.. Hoover's words did
not fall on deaf ears. Beyond the
shadow of a doubt, on the contrary
they made the deepest kind of an i'm
preston. Most authorities think they
were worth a dozen Jones-Stalker laws
for Furnishing bootleggers with $4,000
fines and 5-year jail sentences.
The President set the thirStiest Amer
leans to thinking. All over the United
States, as there is evidence at hand to
prove, men and women have taken the
private pledge to help the new President
"put prohibition across" by individual
example.
Unquestionably, that is the signifi-
canoe and the explanation of the shin
ing example which has just been set
to WashingtonS smarteSt social element
by one of its outstanding and most
highly respected leaders. Easter, 1929
seems destined to take its place in
American prohibition history.
Copyright, 1929