New Britain herald., 1930-03-13

lNL w pr business men are habitual violators of the prohibition laws.
 Hesitates to Use Words
 He said he hesitated to use the word fanatic" as he would hesitate to use the word "bigot" as both terms were employed for the most part "by folks who live in large and spacious" glass houses.
 However" he added. it is quite evident from the character of a large part of the wet testimony given in these hearings that many of the leading opponents of prohi- bition will go to any extreme of wild mis- statement in an endeavor to make their case. Slander and ma- l licious libel have become large part of their stock in trade. They are willing to tear down respect for all law because of their dislike for one law.
 | "One does not need to be a prohi- btionist to realize that the direct statements and decided inference of l those business men who testified for the vets has been harmful in this country.
 Tt has been alleged here by Mr. Grayson M. P. Murphy of New York, in particular that all the business men of his acquaintance violate the eighteenth amendment to the con- stitution of the United States and his decided inference was that usi- ness men generally throughout the country disobeyed this law. of course. that is not true. It is far from the truth. But what is the effect of such statements upon the growing boys and girls or upon that section of the laboring popula- tion of the country which does not have opportunity to know the truth and may be led to believe the worst ?"
 Says It Is Publicity Scheme,
 Denouncing the present investiga- tion as primarily a publicity hear ing Sherwood asserted that if business men generally thought the repeal or modification measures be- fore the committee had any pros- pect of passage, the capitol would not be large enough to hold the business leaders of the country who would be here to defend prohibition to the last ditch" He added that although the business men know the vets do not have a chance" they are not willing to let even this publicity case so by default"
 He then proceeded to present more than 25 brief statements, many of them f1atly denying Murphy's charge, that had come to him by telegram from, among others, Rob- ert Garrett, Baltimore banker. Clarence H. Kelsey of the Title Guarantee & Trust company of New York; Captain Robert Dollar of the Dollar Lines; J. C. Penney, founder of the Penney Chain Stores; Orrin K. Judd, president of the Irving Trust company, New York; E. K. Llnthlcum, president of the National Cast Iron Pipe company, Birming- ham, Ala: E. L. Smith, president of the National Association of Cloth lers and Furnishers, Chicago; and Ralph II. Burnside, president of the Wlllapa Plumber company, Portland Ore.
 Uses Other Statements Sherwood also brought statements supporting the prohibition laws from Vic Donahey, former governor of Ohio, Bishop Francis J. McCon- nell, president of the Federal Coun. ell Of Churches of Christ in America and Prof. Henry w. Farnam of Yale University, an economist. In support of his contention that statements such as that of Murphy have a harmful influence upon the public and that the business men or the country are preponderantly Tn favor of the prohibition laws. he said:
 If certain types of mind are led to believe that bankers violate such portions of the constitution as they choose, it is not a far step for others to let down the bars in violation of the fifth amendment, guaranteeing private property, and bomb the bankers bank.
 Tn such time as this, when the complexlty of our modern civiliza- ton IS making it difficult enough to bring prnu-irr oh; spect for the law and democratic in stltutlons, these mature citizens who sheer at the law and advocate fits violation should pause to realize how Tar the poison of their influence may go.
 The facts are these, gentlemen or the committee, that the vast ma- 1orlty of the American people are law abiding. They observe the pro- hlbition law and other laws. This includes the business executives at the top, the day laborers at the bot tom and those in between. It is true that we have a difficult problem of laWlessness in our country, but 1t ought to be said with equal vigor that the problem is restricted to a comparatively small even though dangerous, class"
 Text of Telegram
 Former Governor Donahcy's tele- gram said: Prohibition in my opinion has been successful and in Ohio is being as we'll enforced as any other criminal statute."
 Bishop Mcconnell said that 'in general the results of prohibition