Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14
PRISON CHAPLAIN
PRAISES DRY LAW
New York Has improved Be-
cause of Prohibition, Says
"BoWery Bishop"
Continued From First Page.)

| GfanamB announcement, Representa-
tive Dyer, Republican, Missouri, sought
| to read into the record telegram from
Robert Dollar replying to charges made
| yesterday that his ships carried bars
and liquor In violation Of the law. Dyer,
however, was unsuccessful, as Chair
man Graham ruled that q witness,
Robins, then had the floor. Robins tes-
titled that measures before the commit
tee proposing repeal of the eighteenth
amendment or change In the Volstead
act did not have a "chinamans
Robins told the committee that both
major parties were dry and dare not
be otherwise"
"stiM Be . Saloon" He Says.
even the vets piously declare that
they do not want the saloons" he
said, "but o rose by any other name is
still q rose. The saloon is simply a
place where men drink liquor and more
liquor, and MODIFICATION, the Canadian
system or straight-out repeal would
bring us the saloon again in one form
or another-even If we painted II
| white, sold lilies at the door and had
Uncle Sam for q bartender"
| National prohibition came, he said,
because wet States would not allow dry
States to be dry, and because any
social problem of such far-reachng
| erect. involving all the people, IS ultl-
mately forced to yield to natlonal con-
sideration and treatment"
Robins said prohibition grew from the
tremendous underlying forces OF ma
tional development. He cited the urban
movement as deciding factor.
1--WE began 81 per cent rural" he SAID.
1--WE are 81 per cent urban this morn
ing. A driver asleep IN . ium a,sS1,
wagon is a different social factor Cnan
| a driver drunk behind the wheel OF an
auto If ever there was a personal
liberty right to get drunk, that right Is
improved labor conditions, living
Standards and entertainment have made
the American people dry In sentiment,
he argued.
miner, he frequented the saloon as
able life" had done away with all tnat
Suffrage Power is Cited.
Universal suffrage also functions, he
"Wonen, one-half Of our race, who
have borne the burden, suffered the cost
of drunkenness, have in this generation
come into full power OF the ballot noxes
and can protect themselves and tneiI
CIll10kNh AAOAh WAN N~~~~
LIQUOR" he said.
Replying to Representative Summers
Democrat, Texas, the witness said ne
desired no law enforcement leglslation
bevond that recommended by the
Hoover commission, which he mdorSeo
Including the abolition OF jury
trial?" asked Representative browning
Democrat, Tennessee.
1T do not consider the recommended
ton an abolition of jury trial" answered
) Robins, adding that giving President
Hoover any legislation needed for en-
forcemeYt was the duty Of Congress
rather than academic discussion. OF re-
peal"
metropolitan wet newspapers and spe-
cial interests prohibition now woulc
not be national issue.
Denounces Wet Press.
He testified there had been EDITORIAL
izing in news columns OF great papers
emnhasizinx the wet side" This he
denounced. Robins said this newspaper
influence was sufficient to cause discus
sion, but not to change opinion.
Representative La Guardia, Repub-
lican, New York, told the committee
that after 10 years there was TOO mucn
disregard Of laws to make enforcement
! possible.
The witness blamed the "noisy 20 per
cent" for this, and La Guardia observed
there was too much liquor drunk loI
20 per cent Of the American people 70
do It all.
Callahan, the next witness, testified
that great good has been brought about
in the Bowery by the dry law.
Ten years ago there were "a saloons
in the Bowery; next year they dwindleo
to six" he said.
The witness told in picturesque Ian
guage of "McGurks Suicide Hall" the
Tub of Blood" and similar places on
the Bowery, which he said had now dis
appeared.
He said hundreds of men whom he
knew 10 years ago who had lived with
out God and without hope" now had
homes, families, autos and radios as q
result Of prohibition.
ct hope to God the dry law will stay
on the books and be more consistently
enforced" he declared.
When he was called upon by the COM
mittee, he arose from a seat in the
second row Of spectators. When
think Of the old days -" he began
Then Mrs. Lenna YoSt, who was IN
charge of the presentation OF the dry
witnesses today, motioned him forward
toward the witness chair.
ton In front of the committee, then
turned his back on the members and
continued:
at was reared on the lower East Side
of New York and there was for 39
years q missionary"
Drank Rum When He Was 9.
He said he had had no education,
but was drinking rum when he was Q.
He asserted 1t was the influence OF a
dear old grandmother" that started
him away from liquor, but that ne mac
become "derelict" through the tnflu-
ence of the saloon.
It was q Christian mission that hnal"
" made him a man among men," ne
said, adding that If ''I had continued
on as / was at IS, I would now be In
hell"
present conditions, instead of having to
put out dozen DRINKS night, only
one a week must be elected.
Prank Dippel of the Brotherhood Mis-
sion on Giard avenue Philadelphia,
told of q campaign to clean up "Old
Fishtown" wears ago. There were IS
saloons and "a speakeaSies then. Now,
he said they are closed and liquor is
sold only under cover, while ice cream
parlors have taken the place Of the So
loon.
Says Students Drink Less.
The committee also heard Ralph H.
White of New Haven, research secre-
tary of the fact-finding committee on
law enforcement In Connecticut who
testified that students in high schools
! and colleges had reduced their drinking
"Tihe youth Of this generation in