Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-13


"Tt has been my good fortune to
travel considerably about the United
states. I am convinced that in most
cities of 10000 to $4,000 and less, there
Is no serious prohibition problem. That
does not mean there is no drinking or
bootlegging. We shall never be able
TO stop them completely. no more than
the Government is able to stop the
bootlegging and use Of opium.
I'm my Judgment, since prohibition
has been put In hundreds OF thousands
more children have had a. fairer start
in life than existed in preprohibition
DAYS. With the breaking down of the
home life and with all the complex
ties of new opportunities for being mis-
led, tremble to think what this re-
welt Of youth might have led to were
prohibition laws not in operation.
las I see it, the prohibition law Is not
observed, first, by the idle rich; second,
by the 'ne'er do wells as Westbrook
Pesler calls them; third, by the class
wh6 demand special privileges for them
selves, and fourth, by the follow-tails,
that is the weak ones who just go along.
THE great mass of people IN the
United States. in my judgment, are
strong for the law and will continue
to be despite the massed attack which
is being made upon 1t"
- Gross Examination Undertaken.
Gross examination of a number Of
the women who have urged support OF
the eighteenth amendment was under
taken BY the House judiciary committee
when today's hearing opened and Two
members asked for Mrs. Peabody, who
has been In charge of presentation OF
the woman witnesses. She was absent
from the committee room at the time.
Chairman Graham said she would be
present later and the committee then
had its attention directed by Repre-
sentative La Guardia to a letter from
Baron De Mum to Horace Taft, brother
of the late jurist, denying that his
wine growers organization was en-
gaging In tremendous anti-phohtbi-
ton campaign in this country.
At yesterdays session Mrs. Peabody
had insisted that the women she repre-
sented be permitted to finish offering
their prepared testimony before being
questioned. This finally was agreed To-.
Several of the women were Intercepted
and others requested to appear this
morning.
Holds VETS fanatics"
Sherwood was introduced as the first
witness He had prepared a brtef &C.
cllsing the vets Of having become Ia
natics," but before he had an oppor-
tunity to proceed with his testimony
the committee took up cross-examlna-
ton of the woman witnesses.
Later Sherwood presented his testi-
nnony, which was concentrated upon a
denial of evidence given by the vets TO
the effect that American business men
are habitual violators Of the prohibition
laws
He said he hesitated to use the word
fanatic" as he would hesitate 10 use
the word "bigot," as both terms were
EMPLOYED for the most, part by folks
who live in large and spacious" glass
houses.
suanSer, stock In Trade.
however, )" he added. ut is quite ev-
ident from the character Of large part
Of the wet testimony given in these
hearings that many or the leading OPP
moments of prohibition will go to any
extrerne of wild misstatement In an en-
deavor to make their case. Slander and
malicious libel have become a 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 prohibi-
Zionist to realize that the direct state
rnents and decided inference Of those
business men who testified for the vets
has been harmful In this country
"It has been alleged here by Mr..
Crayson NJ P. Murphy of New York,
IN particular, that all the business men
Of his acquaintance violate the eighth
zenith amendment to the Constitution
Of the United States, and his decided
inference was that business men gen.
orally throughout the country disoneyed
this law.
"Of course, this is not true. 1t 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 population OF
the country which does not have OPP
portunity to know the truth and may
be led to believe the worst?"
Denounces Investigation.
Denouncing the present investigation
as primarily publicity hearing,
Sherwood asserted that If business men
generally thought the repeal or modi-
dcation measures before the commit
tee had any prospect of passage, the
Capitol would not be large enough to
hold the business leaders OF the coun-
try who would be here to defend pro-
hibition to the last ditch" He added
that although the business men know
"the vets do not have chance" they
are o.. uOG Wlilui6 W tCI even UAAA7 RNSF
Lefty case go by default"
He then proceeded to present more
than IS brief statements, many OF them
fatty denying Murphy's charge, that
had come to him by telegram from,
among others, Robert Garrett, Balti-
more banker; Clarence H. Kelsey Of the
Title Guarantee g. Trust Co. OF New
York; Capt. Robert Dollar of the Dol
lar lines, j. G. Penney, founder OF the
Nr-r{T4 .
president of the Irving Trust Co., New
York; e. z. Linthicum, president of the
National Cast Iron Pipe Co., Blrmlng-
ham, Ala; z. L. Smith, president of the
National Association Of Clothiers and
Furnishers, Chicago, and Ralph II.
Burnside, president of the Wilapa
Lumber Co., Portland, Greg.
Statements From Leaders.
Sherwood also brought statements
supporting the prohibition laws from
vic Donahey former Governor of Ohio;
Bishop Francis j. Mcconnell, president
Of the Federal Council 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
q harmful influence upon the public
and that the business men of the coun-
try are preponderantly in favor OF the
prohibition laws, he said:
eff certain types Of mind are led TO
believe that bankers violate such por-
tons of the Constitution as they choose
1t is not far step for others to let
down the bars In violation of the fifth
amendment, guaranteeing private prop
erty, and bomb the bankers bank.
I'm such a time as this, when tho
completely of our modern civilization
Is making it difncult enough to bring III
growing children with respect for the
law and democratic institutions. these
mature citizens who sheer at the Law
and advocate its violation should pause
to realize how far the poison of theil