Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-13
DRY LEAGUE HOLDS
LIQUOR REFERENDA
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Mcbride, on Stand, Tells of
Efforts to Influence
Appointments.
COMEDIES STATUTE NOT
400 PER CENT PERFECT"
Fort Speech UNFOLDING Legal Max
ing of Wine and Beer in
Home Praised.


BY the Associated Press.
Antagonism Of the Anti-Saloon League
toward prohibition referenda and en-
beavers by it to influence Federal ap-
pointments of Volstead enforcement
officers were recorded today by the Sen
ate lobby committee.
The medium was continuation Of
testimony by F. Scott Mcbride, who said
at one point that the dry law was mot
100 per cent perfect yet"
The league superintendent praised q
recent House speech by Representative
Fort, Republican, New Jersey, in which
that strong administration supporter
said beer and light wine could be made
in the home legally Questioned on
that phase. Mr.. Mcbride said this might
be done under certain conditions"
Presents Resolution.
The witness, examined for the third
day, presented a resolution expressing
his organizations opposition to ref
brenda. This contended that such
means of ascertaining public sentiment
are unauthorized by the Constitution,
legally futile and unbinding.
Senator Blaine of Wisconsin read
numerous excerpts from the leagues
files.
One of the documents was a report
by Mr.. Mcbride, which said in part
that the majority Of duties Of the
Washington once of the league have
to do with securing the right kind of
appointees."
Mcbride testified that information on
prospective appointees as enforcement
officers had been transmitted to the
responsible Federal officials.
Blaine Is Persistent Questioner.
Immediately upon taking the stand
for the third day as witness, Mr.. Nc
Bride told the committee he did not
care to answer further questions con-
corning his previous assertion that the
league was born of God"
Last week he had taken the position
that his organization was of Divine
origin.
Senator Blaine, the only anti-prohi-
bitionist on the committee, disputed Mr..
McBrides contention, and with the
League superintendent on the stand
again today, the Senator was q per-
sistent questioner.
The Wisconsin Republican asked Mr..
Mcbride If he still believed in the "di-
vine rlgnJ OF kings.
I don't care to answer that" Mr..
Mcbride replied.
Every cruel and wicked tyrant In
the past has always claimed to be the
instrument Of God" Senator Blaine
commented.
Il don't know that and I don't think
you do either" the witness rejoined,
only to have the Senator come back:
II do know as a matter Of history
that those who justified burning at the
stake and wicked inquisitions justified
them on the ground that they were
acting as the instrument of God and
even prayers preceded their actions"
Caraway Intervenes.
Chairman Caraway Of the committee
interjected that the committee was not
interested In personal opinions and the
subject was dropped.
Taking q new tack, Mr.. Blaine de-
manded that the committee summon
Justin Steuart, author of Q book on
Wayne B. Wheeler, former head of the
Anti-Saloon League, to ascertain the
extent Of Wheeler's dry activities.
No immediate action was taken on
the demand.
The Wisconsin wet referred to the
1922 and 1925 prohibition referenda in
Illinois, saying the league had not been
very effective in preventing drys from
voting.
1--WE are not interested in whether the
people think more Of beer than Of the
Constitution" Senator Caraway re-
marked.
Mr.. Mcbride has testified that the
league advised Illinois drys not to vote
in the referenda.
Answering a question by Senator
g. vl1oA l.
to drys not to vote in the Illinois
referenda, Mr.. Mcbride said:
"Our appeal was a question Of why
should we run for train when we
were already on board.
why should we let the vets put out
stuffed rabbit for us to chase when
we had live game to go after?"
He also predicted Chicago would vote
dry in time.
Resolution Put in Record.
Mr.. Mcbride placed in the record a
resolution giving the leagues position
on referenda, as follows:
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense Of this
board that the temperance forces of the
United States should not be diverted
from the main issues in any election to
so-called wet and dry referenda on the
eighteenth amendment or the national
prohibition law. which referenda are
without authority under the Constitu-
ton and which are legally futile and
can have no binding effect.
I'm any State referenda having to do
with laws or State constitutional privi-
sions which will have legal and bind
ing effect the temperance forces should
take an active part
Senator Blaine also read letter at
tributed to Sebastian S. Kresge, which
asked for funds for the Anti-Saloon
League.
IT think 1t would be desirable to sum-
mon Mr.. Kresge," he added.
I'VE can't summon everybody" Cara
way rejoined. Lets decide that later"
Judge English Case Brought Up.
Mr.. Mcbride said he had interviewed
some members of the House in 1926 in
an effort to 'get square DEAF for
Federal Judge George w. English Of
(Hny1fip,,ed ~, Do0o Cnlr,Y,,v1