Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-05
kilograms From Henry Ford
and Thomas A. Edison
Read Into Records.
MANUFACTURERS PROTEST
MODIFICATION OF THE LAW
Writer Quotes Industrial Execu.
tives to Back Up Statement Of
Economic Benefits.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
Big, busy, industrial America, filled
with happy homes where many of the
luxuries of life are enjoyed was the pic
ture painted today before the House
judiciary committee as friends of pro-
hibition began their reply to the seven
day attack by the anti-prohibition group
upon the eighteenth amendment,
The drys, at the outset, backed I'D
their contention that the LIQUOR laws
had proved of untold benefit to the Ma
ton by having read into the committee
record kilograms from Henry Ford and
Thomas A. Edison indorsing prohibi-
ton.
The messages were presented by
Samuel Crowther of Bayside, Long Is
land, an economist and magazine
writer, the first to testify of the many
waiting to be heard in support of the
dry statute.
The Detroit manufacturer wired he
felt sure that the sane people of the
Nation" would never see the eighteenth
amendment repealed or "any dangerous
modification" effected.
II still feel" Edison's telegram said,
that prohibition is the greatest expert
ment yet made to benefit man."
My observation Is that its enforce
ment generally Is at least go per cent
ana Is gaining Notwithstanding the
impression through false propaganda
that it is lower per cent. It is strange
to me that some men of great ability
and standing do not help to remove
the curse of alcohol
Ford and Edison Send TeIegrams.
Crowther, under questioning by Chair
man Graham, said he had asked that
Ford and Edison appear before the
committee, but they were unable to do
so. Their kilograms, he said, were In
reply to his letters and had been re-
cetved this morning.
Before the witness began his testi-
mony the room was well filed. In =
few minutes it was packed. Many
women sat on the floor. Some unable
to force their way into the chamber
caught glimpSes of what was going on
by pering through the doorway ever
the heads of the crowd.
-Crowther said he was not connected
with any organization either in favor
OF or opposed to the eighteenth amend
ment, but had obtained data on con-
ditions under prohibition for the spec
ctfic purpose Of series of articles for
the Ladies Home Journal He sum-
married. this survey as disclosing a
material improvement, especially among
the working men.
Savings account depositors. he said,
had increased materially. The same was
true, he added, with life insurance
policy holders. He quoted e. j. Bufing-
ton, president of the Illinois Steel Cor
poration, as asserting the economic
benefits of prohibition were evidenced in
the home life of the thousand of mill
workers, especially citing conditions In
the big mills at Gary, Ind. Ten
labor supervisors of the General Electric
Co., he went on, had reported that
men were spending less for liquor. In
the coal fields In the Kanawha Valley
in West Virginia, he continued, SINH
lar Improvement was noted.
Josiah Keely, president of the Cabin
Greek Consolidated Coal CO., he said
had written him that the situation
there was better. Keely, he added, had
said that now absenteeism after pay
day still was considerable, but it was
because men were either hunting or
shopping or "flivvering" with their
families.
The full text of Ford's telegram as
read by Crowther said:
THE eighteenth amendment is rec
ognized by the men and women of cur
country, The women especially are the
greatest force for the comfort and pl oS-
perity Of the United States. I feel sure