Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-20

Continued From First Page.)
but to several unfortunate aspects of
the campaign of his opponent, Ruth
Mccormick In demonstration OF this
claim, it was pointed out that the dry
Republican candidate for Representa-
tive at large, Richard Yates, won In the
same Statewide election.
Agree on Slight Changes.
II, spite of this, 1t was the disposition
OF the conference to consider whether
there is need for the drys to modify
their position in view OF the election.
Several specific proposed modincations
Of the present dry position were can
yassed and most were rejected. There
was practically no consideration for
the notion Of accepting q change IN the
permitted alcoholic content OF bever-
ages that would legalize beer. As TO
some much milder notifications OF the
Voistead act, there was some assent.
One of the outstanding drys IN political
life thinks that physicians should pe
allowed to prescribe alcoholic stimulants
without any limit except their own
consciences. Some. Of the drys believe
that some other provisions OF the Vol
stead act, not essential to its principle.
There was quite general assent TO the
idea that too much Of the burden OF
enforcement now rests in practice upon
the Federal Government. It was more
or less agreed that the Federal Govern
ment cannot attempt TO prosecute small
local violations within the States, and
that such violations must be the con-
eerff Of the State governments. Some
Of the discussion had 70 DO with bring
ing about better enforcement BY states,
and defining Of the separate functions
Of the States and the Federal Govern
ment.
one conclusion arrived at by some
in the conference was that the leader
ship of prohibition has been too exclu-
sively in the hands Of officials OF exist
ing organizations, most of which are
affiliated with churches The point was
made that these officials hold salaried
positions and are committed to programs
adopted years ago under different COM
ditions. Consequently 1t was argued
that some such leaders may have been
impaired in their ability to take account
of recent developments. 1t was argued
also that some of these older leaders and
organizations. as a result OF continuity
of attack upon them, may have suffered
the fate of most pioneers and become
less effective as symbols of the dry
cause in the public eye. While there
was every consideration for the work
done by these leaders and their organi-
cations In the past, It was q general
conclusion that future leadership should
be shared by men Of large affairs from
other walks Of life.
Plan Rival Organization.
The specific point was made that the
drys have no equivalent for the vets
Association Opposed to Prohibition"
which includes many men of wealth and
standing such as the Du Points, who
are willing to give their names as well
as money to the wet cause. Incidentally,
the dry leaders comforting here have
heard rather automatically that q new
and additional group Of wealthy men
similar to the Association Opposed TO
Prohibition has come together in New
York and has pledged $l0,000,000 for
q five-year anti-prohibition campaign.
To Offset this kind of support to the
wet cause and to fill a gap In the dry
forces there Is being organized from
Chicago an organization described as
business mems prohibition group" The
drys at the conference believe they will.
get a representation Of business men
more impressive than that of the vets.
Practically everybody in the recent
conference was confident that the wetS
cannot now, nor for many years, COM
mand the support Of the 80 States which
are indispensable to repeal the prohibi-
ton amendment The less belligerent
among those present. however. urged
that the drys cannot afford to rely upon
the mere veto power of Is States, and
that public sentiment would be unsym-
pathetic to their falling back to that
stand.
Whether the drys should make any
gesture in the way of welcoming vote
In Congress or other form Of referen-
dunn was left open. A majority of those
present was in favor of welcoming some
such test. Regardless of this, the drys
In the Senate next month will call upon
wet leaders, such as newly elected Sena-
tor Morrow of New Jersey, to make
and detailed statement of ex-
actly what form of liquor control he
proposes to substitute In place of the
present status. A guiding principle of
the drys will be to have the public en-
abled to make detailed comparison be-
tween the present status and the pro-
posed ones. The drys say they do not
wish the public to make It's choice be-
tween the present status, with all its
evils, and, on the other hand some
abstract dream of another kind Of con-
troll.
Copyright. 1sa0)