Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-13
SHOWDOWN IN 1892
FOR DRY LAW seen
Either Strict Party Issue or
National Referendum Fore
cast as Objective.

BY the Associated Press.
A climax in 1882 for prohibition's
career in national politics appeared to-
day the objective both of its opponents
and some OF its supporters.
Either as an issue between the parties
in the presidential election or in the
form Of . popular referendum, a 1882
showdown has been advocated in state
ments frem both vets and drys in Con-
gress. Now it has developed some OF
the prohibition-supporting members Of
the Presidents Law Enforcement Com
mission would like an expression of
popular sentiment on the dry law, after
it has had 10 years Of trial.
The prohibition clamor, which had
risen to the pitch of published fore
casts that Senator Tess Of Ohio. would
resign as chairman Of the Republican
National Committee becllSe of his active
dry stand, drew q denial from him last
night
Was Personal Opinion.
He reiterated his assertion that the
recent warning against q repeal move
within his party was an expression of
personal opinion only. Yet before his
denial close associates held to the be-
lief he would quit the party post rather
than be silent In any major prohibi-
ton conflict.
The close wall Of secrecy surround
ing the Law Enforcement Commission's
EFFORTS to draw up q report for the
President on prohibition has let out
word from dry members of the group
that astounding" things have been
discovered. But none would go to the
length Of indicating what conclusion
the surprises led to.
Home Wine Studied Anew.
In the meantime the Department of
Justice is studying anew just how much
latitude the prohibition laws give the
men who make wine at home.
It's attitude on the question of fruit
juices in the home has not changed
since 1925, Attorney General Mitchell
said today, but new factor has arisen
which Is not covered by previous state
ments Of policy. This is the sale Of
grape concentrate, which becomes wine
after fermentation.
Col. Amos w. w. woodcock, director
of prohibition enforcement, returned
to Washington yesterday for confer
ences with Mr.. Mitchell on the grape
concentrate and other questions.
Mitchell referred today to Supreme
Court decision, handed down in jan
uary, 1926, as representing his attitude
toward home wine-making. The ruling
was:
"A person who manufactures fruit
juices may lawfully possess the product
In his home for exclusive home use,
Notwithstanding that 1t has, by process
Of fermentation, acquired an alcoholic
content of one-half of 1 per cent or
more by volume, providing that 1t has
not become intoxicating in fact"
Mitchell said Woodcock's request for
500 additional dry agents had his ap-
prova1. It has been approved by the
Budget Bureau.
Yesterday Representative Beedy. Re-
publican, Maine, a supporter Of pro-
hibition, joined those favoring .
thorough discussion" of prohibition In
the 1882 campaign, while Representa-
tive Linthicum of Maryland predicted
the Seventy-third Congress, meeting In
1888, would adopt resolution to re-
peal the eighteenth amendment.
Ltnthicum said he expected to see
early modification of the Volstead act
to permit the sale Of light wines and
beer, adding that strenuous efforts
would be made by the wet bloc to obtain
action at the December session.