Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-18

be enforced If Congress wants to embark
in the police business and with ar
expenditure of $300,000,O 900 year.
Senator Sheppard of Texas, Senator
Reed said, had attempted to show that
DR.. Doran believed that much could be
done by correcting violations of the law
at the source of industrial alcohol.
Alcohol" said Senator Reed, "does
not have single source, 1t has 10000
sources, and industrial alcohol is not as
well received now as good old moon
shine.
IF there are three earnest prohibi-
tionists," said Senator Reed, Senator
Harris of Georgia is one and Senator
Sheppard of Texas is the other two
Yet Senator Harris, discussing his
amendment to increase the appropria-
tons for prohibition enforcement by
S25.000,0 900, said that prohibition en-
forcement Is a farce, causing disre-
spect for all law.
ITO that / say amen. Disrespect to
the law is the greatest evil that can be-
fall. 1t is the offspring of this law and
comes from 1t as naturally as seeds
spring from the fertile earth"
Senator Reed added that Senator
Harris insisted the law was not enforced
because Congress did not provide the
money.
Amount to Be Used Cited.
How much money!" exclaimed Sem
ator Reed. IT have been informed by
the chairman of the appropriations
committee that s59,0000 900 is contrib
uted directly and indirectly by the Fed
eral Government this year for enforce
ment of the dry law"
Senator Reed estimated that the total
sum expended would be about $l00, OO0,-
600. No man, he said, can measure
its cost.
I'VE say we stopped the saloon and
distillery," continued Senator Reed. "You
did not stop the saloon. You made it a
migratory thing. 1t runs about in an
automobile and its bar is compressed
into gripsack. You did not stop the
brewery. You made millions of brew
cries in the homes OF the people. But
why need I argue further when dry
Senators here admit that the enforce
ment of prohibition is a farce"
Senator Reed said there had never
been race of men which had not had
some form of stimulantS. He argued
that 1t was impossible to quench a
natural appetite and natural demand.
He said that when Congress said thou
shalt not drink" it created q different
psychology and that the average fellow
replied: II don't care a snap of the
fingers for that law"
Senator Reed brought his long speech
to close with q plea for repeal of the
eighteenth amendment and control OF
the problem by the States.
Let us go back to the principles on
which our Government was founded
Senator Reed concluded. Let us re-
peal this obnoxious, hideous amend
ment. Let us say to the States that
they are capable Of governing them
selves. This is in the nature of an
exercise of the police power. We trus,
them to apprehend murderers, and we
should say to them, We will trust you
this matter And then I am willing
that the States shall be protected in
enforcing their laws.
discharge the Shoppers"
discharge the shoppers and spies
who have been employed with our
money to break down our doors, and
as they go let us say that in this coun-
try system of spies and espionage is
an abominable thing!"
When the Missourian had taken his
seat, Senator Jones, Republican, Of
Washington, and author of the pending
bill to enlarge the penalties for serious
violations of the prohibition law, an
nounced he would offer an amendment
to the bill, setting forth that 1t is the
intent Of Congress that the courts. in
carrying out this law, should discrim-
mate between the casual, small violator
and the regular bootlegger.
Toward the close OF his long attack
on prohibition Senator Reed of Mis-
souri, declared there are more dope adj
diets in the country today than there
ever were of habitual drunkards, and