Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-12
CHANGE in DRY LAW
BY FOES is SEEN IF
FRIENDS DON'T ACT
Forecast Follows Split in
G. o. p. on Prohibition
Policy Of Party.
RESIGNATION OF TESS
DEMANDED BY BRITTEN
White House Remains Silent on
Controversy Between Chair
man and Vets.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


"The volstead act must be amended
by its friends to meet conditions which
have arisen in the country-or 1t will
be amended In the end by its foes"
This is the view of at least one dry
member of the Senate, privately ex-
pressed. But it is understood to be the
view also of other dry members Of the
Senate and the House, men who have
voted consistently for prohibition.
The failure of the present system, so
far as the enforcement of national pro-
hibition is concerned, Is given as the
impelling reason for change In the
law Another reason--that which led
this dry Senator to predict that the
enemies of national prohibition would
rewrite the law If its friends did not
Is found in the results of the recent
congressional and senatorial elections.
state Control Suggested.
To what extent the friends of the
Volstead act would be willing to amend
IL is 2 real question. some OF tnem'
following the lead of the bone dry or
ganizations, wiz oppose any compromise
with the vets.
One suggestion, however, is that the
duty Of enforcing the prohibition laws
be transferred 10 the States themselves,
with the understanding that the Fed
eral Government would confine its ac-
tivities to preventing the importation
of LIQUOR into this country from foreign
nations and would see that liquor was
not shipped from one State to another.
This also might be coupled with an
amendment of the Volstead act permit
ting an alcoholic content in beverages
somewhat higher than one-half Of l
per cent.
While the vets and the drys in Con-
gress and out are tackling the liquor
1ican party over the wet and dry issue
has forced itself into the linnelight-
Tess Starts Discussion.
The statement of Senator Simeon ID.
Fess, chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, to the effect that the
@. o. p. would have to espouse the
cause Of the eighteenth amendment and
prohibition frankly in the 1882 CAM
paign, since, in his opinion, the Demo-
Gratis would take the wet side, started
the ball rolling
Representat FRED A. Britten OF NJ.
linois, Republican wet leader IA the
House, and former Senator james W..
Wadsworth, wet Republican In New
York, fired Immediately broadsides at
the suggestion Of Senator Fess. Mr..
Britten went 50 far IS to demand the
immediate resignation OF Mr.. Tess as
chairman Of the National Committee.
The Ohio Senator declined to CONF
ment today on the statements issued
by Britten and WadSwDrth, although he
indicated that, in his opinion, the
Wadsworth statement had been sum-
eiently answered by what happened to
ar. WadsWorth's wet candidate for
Governor OF New York. Charles H Tut
kie. in the recent elections. futile was
Nefeated by Gov. Roosevelt, Democrat,
~ more than zoo, 600 lead.
The White House was mum In re-
gard to the controversy between Mr..
EeSg and the wet members of the
~. o. p. II Is generally expected that
The White House viii have nothing to
lay on the question Of national prohibi-
hon until the President has received
from the Wickersham Law enforcement
Commission its report on. the enforce
ment OF the dry laws: Whether the
President win have this report before
him In time to take cognizance Of 1t
en his annual message to Congress-
when that body meets December !, Is
q question.
Resignation Not Expected.
There seems no pkODa0kuby VI vie
immediate withdrawal of Senator Fess
from the craftsmanship Of the Republic
can National Committee. II he resigns,
1t viii in all probability not be before
Rhe first Of next year.
With the return Of Congress to WASH
tngton, 1t is expected that proposals for
n change IN the dry laws will be ad-
vaneed by various members. Already
there are bills and resolutions proposing
such change, ranging from repeal Of
the eighteenth amendment TO proposals
for amendment Of the Volstead act
permitting physicians to prescribe
alcoholic beverages in such quantities
as they see ut.
There are pending before the Con-
Rress, too, q number of legislative pro-
posals submitted by President Hoover IN
accordance with recommendations OF
the Wickersham Law Enforcement Com
mission to strengthen the arm Of the
Government in the enforcement Of the
dry laws. One of these would provide
for handling of minor offenses against
the dry law by commissioners, instead Of
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