Evening star., 1929-06-30
WOMAN AS SOCIAL DRY LEADER
SEES COCKTAILS LOSING CASTE
Mrs. StraWbridge, Visiting
Here, Says Philadelphia
Campaign Spreads.
Offers of Support Coming to
Her From All Parts of
United States.
ny FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Mrs. George n. Strawbridge. prorni-
nent Quaker hostess Of Philadelphia
whose letters asking society women &c
set an example" by giving dry fune-
tions, have attracted national notice.
was In washington during the week
end. She came to report the success
fll progress Of her campaign to in
terest personS-men and women
some Of them in high position.
Mrs. Strawbridge began a month ago
TO urge women Of social importance 10
refrain from serving liquor in their
homes, In order to hold up the hands
Of President Hoover in his drive for
law observance, To date. Mrs. Straw
bridge has canvaSsed only women In
Philadelphia and It's suburbs. Presently
and by degrees, she win institute SINH
lar efforts IN many other cities.
She Is advised by washington friends
to let the work be carried out by local
people, rather than have 1t directed
from any central quarter. Mrs. Straw
bridge WIN adopt this suggestion.
Spreads Over Country.
Although the Philadelrhian has not
propagandized outside Of her own home
community, she finds that the move
part, has spread all over the United
States. From East and West, North
and South, she says, unsolicited offers
Of support are coming. They come in
some cases from men, who say she
lis on the right track"
In an interview with this writer,
Mrs. Strawhfidge states that she feels
sure she has started something" She
does not think by any means that the
fashionable luncheon and dinner tables
Of the land are going to 60 dry all Of
sudden. as Q result of what she has
get In motion. but she is compelled TO
believe that her suggestion Is bearing
extensive fruit.
II have refused resoluteIy," said Mrs.
Strawbridge, Ito disclose the names of
the women wrote to, or the names of
those who replied. have never author
ICED the publication of my original
letter, but 1t got out through some of
the recipients, and has been widely re-
produced. The letter emphasizes that
seek nothing in the shape of an or
sanitation, or public meetings, or brass
band methods Of any kind. It merely
asks the cooperation of women in posi-
ton to set personal examples In some
concerted fashion.
MY letter proceeds from the premise
that until there Is widespread willing
ness to cut out drink at social func-
ttons there ts small hope that our So
called better-clasS people can ever be
inspired to observe the liquor laws.
Il am taking my stand on the spirit
Of President Hoover's inaugural address,
when he said; For our citizens to
patronize the violation of a particular
law. on the ground that they are OPP
posed 70 1t, Is destructive of the very
basis Of all that protection Of life, home
and property which they rightly claim
under other laws. If citizens do not
like Law. their duty as honest men
and women is to discourage It's viola
ton. Their right is openly to work for
its repeal"
Reaches $500 Women.
Mrs. Strawbridge was asked to ex-
plain her method of approaching
women whom she considers TO be in a
position to set the dry pace in society"
so far" she replied, "I have ad-
dressed myself to some 2300 women in
Philadelphia and its environs. I have
had more than 1000 replies. The over
whelming majority is favorable. have
had several hundred unfavorable letters.
Not all the women who write in sup
port OF my suggestion are prohibition
lists. Indeed, very many confess they
are not or have not hitherto been pro-
hibitionistS. But scores upon scores of
them say the Presidents appeal is ir-
resistible, and that henceforward they
purpose carrying it into effect at their
own tables
"A lot of women explain that they
are ready to cut out liquor as soon as
the practice of doing so becomes more
general. They hesitate to do so now.
saying frankly that everybody is serv-
ing cocktails and what goes with them,
and that they do not feel themselves
in position, for the present at any rate.
to become conspicuous exceptions. Many
who talk along these lines express the
hope that my idea will erentually gain
many followers. They seem anxious
to be among them"
Admit They Are Not Drys.
What do the unfavorables write
youP" Mrs. Strawhridge was requested
to reveal.
They declare quite bluntly that they
do not believe in prohibition" she said
They claim it is doing more harm
than good, is breeding disrespect for
all law, can never be enforced and, as
far as they are concerned, add that
they will do nothing to make matters
worse, as they put 1t.
Many of my correspondents who
acknowledge their incorrigible antipathy
to prohibition, tell me they admire my
courage IN trying to dry up fashion,
able parties, but doubt whether I'm
ever going to get anywhere. At least,
they leave me in no doubt that I can
expect no cooperation from them"
Mrs. Strawbridge asserts that the
examples Of the British Ambassador in
Washington and ofNle new American