Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-06
BARROW IS CHEERED
IN LIQUOR DEBATE
Dr.. Wilson Substitutes for
Senator Fess, Who Was
Too HI to Appear.

Clarence Darrow and DR.. Clarence
True Wilson. secretary of the Methodist
Board of Temperance, Prohibition and
Public Morals, debated prohibition at
| the Washington Auditorium last eve
ming, TO the delight of a large crowd
that early and repeatedly gave vent to
its opinions.
DR.. Wilson was to have presided over
the debate, but at the last minute he
| substituted for Senator FeSs of Ohio,
who is Ill.
| barrow, introduced by Senator Bark
| ley of Kentucky as one of the greatest
lawyers, accepted the substitution and
set out to debate the subject:
Resolved, That prohibition is right
! in principle, a success in practice and
should be enforced"
DIR. Wilson Quotes Scriptures.
The sympathieS of the crowd. which
numbered about 5000 were with Oar
row, but DR.. Wilson. who spoke first,
drove three counters home with scrip
/ tural quotations.
| Prohibition as new experiment, said
| Dr. Wilson. lis entitled to as long a time
| and as fair chance as was given the
| licensing system, 140 years.
The crowd cheered as DR.. Wilson
quoted lIle dONlCe Oh solomon on look
ing on the wine when it is red
Darrow Counters Caustically.
When the Methodist official had con-
cluded his opening argument, the Chi
cago lawyer developed caustic account
of Noahs experience with the Ark
IF the prohibitioniSts were honest in
their literal Interpretation of the Bible
| they could never have supported pro-
h - Tnap n Afk kA
transformation of water into wine by
| Christ
! DR.. Wilson began by saying that he
J did not claim that prohibition has
! stopped all drinking or that 1t has dried
! up the sources of liquor. II do claim
! he asserted, that lawlessness is not the
result of prohibition
In developing his argument he laid
down several accomplishments of pro-
hibition." 1t is the moral miracle of
the twentieth century in that it has
outlawed the liquor traffic; it has re-
moved legalized and organized tempta-
ton; 1t has made news of the manufac-
ture and sale OF liquors. Describing
| conditions that existed under the open
saloons he asked. Have you noticed
the great difference now?"
Both Interrupted by Crowd.
But the crowd was not to be denied.
Both speakers frequently were inter-
! rupted and several in the crowd left
| noislly. when one or the other made
! remarks which the individuals strongly
dlsapproved. Then policemen, display
/ ing night sticks, waved them sug-
seStively in different parts of the hall
throughout the debate.
barrow was given an ovation when
! he rose to speak. Il know more about
theology than he does about prohibi-
ton" he asserted as a preface to his
description OF the difficulties of Noah
Taking vigorous exception to Wilson s
! assertion that much of the prosperity
OF the country is the result of prohibi-
ton, he declared that prohibition costs
more than liquor ever cost Wilson had
, referred to the waste of money on
| liquor"
Prosperity has no relation to prohibi-
ton, he asserted. This country got
most of its prosperity between 1914 and
1920. when prohibition came" he said.
Most of it came in three years follow
| ing the outbreak Of the war when we
were selling everything to Europe at
three times what 1t was worth"
Personal Liberty Is Plea.
| The plea of personal liberty was the
burden Of the Chicagoans address. He
ers; this bunch that tells us what we
must do"
Il drink a little" he said. land am
against prohibition because l want to
take drink. / want to mind my own
business. I do not want to force DR..
Wilson to take beer and wine.
so long as 1 live I shall fight for
the right to choose my own food. to
choose my own drink, to select my own
religion If I want to and to think my
own thoughts without interfering with
any man"
DR.. Wilson came back to charge that
Darrow knowingly was sidestepping the
issue. He is too good a lawyer not to
know he is avoiding the subject of this
debate" he said THE question is not
of a mans personal liberty. Darrow
forgets that there are social obliga-
tons. / have a right to swing my
arm. but that right is abridged the mo-
ment my fist comes in contact with Mr..
Darrow's nose.
Wilson Blames Vets.
LET me point out to you" he sug-
gested, that there is private appetite
and public traffic. We have had 10
years of prohibition mostly under vets.
We have had wet cabinet officers, wet
prohibition officials. Is it fair to say,
Look what the drys are doing with the
enforcement when the vets have been
responsible?
In spite of poor leadership" he said
in conclusion, in spite of lack Of 10y
atty. prohibition is the noblest expert
ment ever undertaken by a people. 1t
is here to stay"