The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-02-20
18TH AMENDMENT
REPEAL DEMANDED
Aggressive Vets Allege Gov.
eminent Backs Dry Agents
in Their Killings
"GRAVE EVIL" FORSEEN
Backers of Movement Would
Turn Entire Matter Back
to Control of States
GRAVE EVIL" FORSEEN

Washington, Feb. 19.--Outright
repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment and transfer to the states
OF the power to regulate intoxicat-
ing liquors was demanded by wit
nesses today before thehouse jul
dietary committee which. after a
recess of several days, has returned
to the hearing of testimony for a
change in the dry laws.
William H. Slayton, chairman of
the board of directors of the
Association Against Prohibition
Amendment, was the first to take
the stand. He asserted that people
throughout the country had lost
respect for the government because
of the prohibition law and because
it had lost its efficiency.
The witness hurled the accusa-
ton that the government had en-
ployed thugs and was defending
murderers in enforcing the dry
statute, and said no government
could continue to retain the respect
of it's people under such conditions,
Slayton was the first of a long
list to be heard in the two days re-
naming for the anti-prohibitionists
to present their side of the case,
When they conclude the friends of
prohibition will have an opportunity
to present their views.
Before Slayton started, Chairman
George S. Graham of the commit
tee ruled that William A. Smith, at
torney general for the state of Kan
sas, could not question Walter Lig-
gett former Minneapolis newspaper
man, on testimony recently given
the committee by Liggett that one
could purchase a drink in many
Kansas cities within Is minuets
after arrival. Graham said such
cross-examination would prolong
the hearings and, further, that Lig-
gett was out of the city.
Slayton said he testified as a rep
resentative of the board of direc-
tors, explaining the board was COM
posed of 232 members engaged in
nearly every kind of business. He
asserted it had conducted an ex-
haustive investigation into condi-
tons resulting from prohibition and
had reached conclusion that all
was not well under national prohi-
bition laws" So.
ITO correct this situation" Stay
ton continued, "the directors of this
association beg leave to recon-
mend to the committee a favorable
report upon one Of the resolutions
providing for the,lIrepeal of the
eighteenth amendment bringing
the matter more closely back to the
people. H.
"In this repeal we do not want
to take from the federal govern
ment any of it's old powers. 1t
should be left with the full power
to deal with importations, exporta-
lions, Interstate transportation,
and similar matters.
"Nor do we believe a repeal of
the amendment ought to go into
effect instantly. We think the
states should be given sufficient
time to have sessions of their leg
islatures, at which suitable, local
regulatory liquor laws may be
adopted.
1--WE believe, further. that where
a state adopts restrictive law or
a prohibition law, it should have
from the federal government the
benefit of such legislation as the
Webb-Kenyon and the Reed bone
dry act, so that the improper trans
portation of intoxicants into state
which has forbidden their. en-
trance shall be a federal crime, and
the federal process may run
throughout the country to produce
the witnesses which the state it
self might not have the power to
produce"