The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-27
WOMEN SPIKE:
PLEA To EASE
BAN ON BOOZE
Irate w. C. T. U. Members
Sink Senate Petition
to Congress.
MEASURE is SHELVED
Hearing Turns Into Debate
on Whether Force Agrees
With Christian Ideas.
MEASURE is sHELvED
BY ROBERT BEARD

IF Christ split the skies and
came back to earth he would drive
out the bootleggers by forcev'
Amen, amen, SisterS!"
"The man who would bring back
liquor doesn't know anything about
Christian principles!"
Amen. Amen!"
And so State Senator Chester A.
Perkins of South Bend lost his de-
bate with seventeen indignant
members of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union, and the fed
eral relations committee of the In
diana senate will recommend indef-
mite postponement of Perkins
resolution to memorialize congress
to so alter the eighteenth amend
nent to permit liquor control in
stead of mandatory prohibition
Senator Perkins alone will sign a
mandatory report favoring passage
Wright Has His Say
The hearing in the Green Room"
adjoining the Lieutenant Governors
office, late Tuesday, quickly re-
solved itself into a debate as to
whether prohibition by force is con-
sistent with the Christian principle
of moral persuasion.
The women fidgeting after an all
day wait in the senate chamber,
were seated encircling the confer
ence table where Senator Perkins
calmly read his resolution.
Senator G. Oliver Holmec, Gary,
committee chairman presided while
Senators Earl Rowley, La Porte, and
John S. Alldredge, Anderson,
slouched IN their chairs. Senator
John L. Niblack, indianapolis,
Strolled in. Two were absent.
Representative Frenk E. Wright,
recorded as author of the Wright
bone-dry law drafted by the Indiana
Anti Saloon League, jumped to his
feet.
I'm surprised and dunbfounded
to hear that prohibition is not con-
sistent with Christian principles" I"
he said.
Better Homes and Schools
"Why, we've got better homes,
schools and churches. The labor
ing man used to start home with
his check on Saturday night and
drop in for a drink and then yield
to temptation and take two. He
staggered home to his children des-
titute, ragged and dirty. Now he
and his family have plenty to eat
and 1uxuries as.well as necessities.
"I'll admit we have few boot
leggerS running around yet, but"
"a few?" Senator Rowley asked.
"Well, several" Wright replied,
not to be diverted from his grafton.
''We talk and sing of that flag
we love--that flag that has never
bowed to an enemy outside of the
nation. Are we going to lower it
now to enemies within our midst?
Are we going to trade part of our
constitution for a beer keg?"
Unperturbed, Senator Perkins
asked Wright: "How do you con-
done Christian principles with the
use of force?"
Christ used force when he drove
the money changers from the tenn
ple," interjected Mrs. Gertrude
Jones, Marion county director of
child welfare for the w. C. T. u.
Drive Out Money Changers
But did Christ resort to force or
persuasion to accomplish moral OBJ
jectives?" Perkins asked. "He did
not stone the woman found in adul-
terry"
IF you think force prohibition is
not consistent with Christian prin-
ciples, why did the churches support
it?" parried Mrs. Jones.
II would say" Perkins replied,
that Christ would not recognize
these principles"
A chorus of "amens" followed the
statement that Christ would drive
out the bootleggers as he did the
money changers. Senator Holmes
warned that the hearing was going
beyond its proper bounds.
One of the women suggested SEN
ator Perkins should try prayer in
stead of writing resolutions against
prohibition.
81 can truthfully say I have not
touched drop of liquor since pro-
hibition," Perkins said. II wonder
how many in this room can say the
same"
II never did" Wright volunteered
popping up his hand.
Neither did l." chorused ALI
dredge, initiating the motion.
Senators have told Ee" Perkins
continued, they would vote against
my resolution, but that if all state
senator's voted their real sentiments
there wouldn't be vote against it. y
"I challenge that statement, =
snapped Wright. How about you,
Senator Alldredge? Would you vote
for it?'
Never. never" said Alldredge
: with a shake of the head that won
approving mods and smiles from the
women.
I