Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-03
DRY TEST HAILED
BY GERMAN LEADER
Conditions in U. S. Impress
Dr.. Nellie, Here to Confer
on Prohibition.

World responsibility shouldered upon
the United States when 1t undertook
the abolition of alcohol as a beverage
can only be discharged by successful
enforcement. according to the leader of
a temperance fight in Germany for local
option, Dr. Otto Nellie.
DR.. Nellie, who arrived in Washington
today to confer Nth dry leaders, said
the prominence of American prohibition
news in publications everywhere has
turned the eyes of the world on "the
great test" in progress here.
IF you fulfill the undertaking on
which you are embarked" DR.. Nellie
said, sit will be the greatest contribu-
ton OF the century to the life of the
human race.
THE front pages of Europe are full
of your prohibition news almost daily,
and am sorry to say that much of it
Is presented in an unfavorable light.
Dry Sentiment Seen Growing.
1.-THE idea, however, is taking root In
Europe and each year there is a deeper
sentiment for some sort of alcohol con-
troll"
DR.. Nellie is chairman of the National
Committee for Local Option in Ger
many and recently led a delegation
which presented to the ReichStag a
petition of 100000 signatures for
legislation to enable political subdivi-
sions to regulate the issuance OF liquor
sale licenses by popular vote.
The visitor also is president of tbs
Theological Seminary of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Frankfort, AND
came to this country in his capacity as
churchman to attend an international
meeting in New York of the foreign
missions commission of his church.
DR.. Nellie has been actively engaged
for many years past in an effort to unite
the many temperance associations OF
Germany behind the local option plan,
for which there Is considerable support
in the Reichstag, he said.
Impressed with Conditions.
Dr. Nellie was favorably impressed with
conditions in the United States under
the dry regime and expressed the con-
viction that enforcement would succeed.
In Germany too much money goes
for beer and liquors" he said too much
money is spent in advertising and too
much money is made by distilleries and
breweries.
ut is an unhealthy condition, a
poor foundation upon which to build a.
republic. The most profitable business
in Germany Is the brewing and dis
tilling business. Abuses have sprung
from the licensing system and We are
hopeful that, through local option. the
people themselves will awake to more
complete sense of public responi Utility.
1T Is necessary to train the people
of every democracy in the functions OF
that democracy. Such legislation will
enable them to exercise a greater voice
In the government upon a question
which is their greatest problem.
Sentiment for temperance is grow
ing in Germany, even among the
university students, whose traditions
before the war we're favorable to ex-
cessive drinking. Once 1t was the
tradition of the student that alcohol
was the beverage of the gentleman, that
o man could not be a gentleman and
cultivate the. social graces without
drink.
New Social Ideal Sought.
"This is a tradition which we are
seeking to replace with new ideal
of social life, and in the work we are
finding the assistance of many profess
sors and large numbers OF the students
themselves.
Germany cannot hope to win her
rightful place In the economic world OF
today If she continues to permit drink
to weaken the brains and muscles OF her
people.
in this country you already have a
great class of people who will not drink
alcohol, people in all walks of life and
of every circumstance, law-abiding and
with a proper sense of their public re-
sponsibility.
Particularly in the West is the pro-
hibition idea taking hold, although l
have travelled from one end of your
land to the other without once having
q drink offered me, without once seeing
q drink taken and without once glimps-
ing an intoxicated man."
Dr. Nellie will remain in washington
for several days before returning to
New York On his arrival here he
conferred with officers of the Methodist
Board of Temperance, Prohibition ana
Public Morals and made plans to call
upon the German Ambassador later IN
the daV