The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-02-19
INQUIRY GROUP
HEARS ATTACK
ON DRY RULE
Stayton Chief Witness at
Session Before House
Committee.
CROSS QUIZ Is BARRED
Kansas AttOrney-Ge General
Denied Right to Grill
Magazine Writer.

iii uttfN fffts
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-The
privilege of cross examining weta
witnesses at the house judiciary
committees prohibition hearings
was denied to drys today in rul-
ing by Representative Graham Repp
Pa. avowedly wet chairman of the
preponderantly dry committee.
Graham made the ruling in re-
Spouse to the request Of Attorney
General w. H. Smith of Kansas that
he be allowed to cross-examine Wal
ger Liggette, magazine writer, who
testified before the committee last
week that Kansas is a wide open"
state
Information which I have re-
ceiyed from Kansas since Mr.. Lig-
gett testified has led be to believe
he did not go far enough in his &C.
Scription of conditions there Ora
ham said today as the committee re-
Sumed hearings on resolutions to
modify or repeal the eighteenth
amendment. I have an editorial
from a Kansas newspaper which
virtually admits the truth of his
charges"
Smith to Testify
Graham said Smith would be
given an opportunity to testify, how
ever, in the time allotted to the
drys. He also permitted insertion
in the record of a statement by
Governor Green of Michigan, de-
nying Liggett's charge that a party
Green attended in Detroit last No
vember was featured by drinking
and obscene dancing.
Representative La Guardia (Rep.,
N. " served notice he would sub
init later additional evidence bear
ing on Liggett'S testimony concern
ing Green.
Graham announced that pro-
ponents of the bills under consid-
Grafton by the committee would be
extended beyond the two days
tentatively fixed last week. He said
the vets would be given all the
time they need, overruling objec-
tons of dryS on the committee.
William H. Stayton, chairman OF
the board of the Association Against
the Prohibition Amendment, was
the first witness presented today by
Chairman Linthicum of the house
wet bloc. Stayton advocated repeal
of the eighteenth amendment and
return to a system of local option.
Would Not Lose Power
ain this repeal, We do not want
to take from the federal govern
ment any of its old powers" he
said. at should be left with the
full power to deal with importa-
tions, expectations, interstate trans
portation and taxation.
Nor do we believe repeal of the
eighteenth amendment ought to go
into effect instantly. We think the
states should be given sufficient
time to have sessions of their legls-
latures. at which suitable local regu-
iatory liquor laws may be adopted"
Stayton criticised several con-
pressmen who vote dry, but imbibe
intoxicating liquor themselves. He
also hit at the law enforcement
commission. saying its recommen-
dations seem to have as their OBJ
ject production of more felonS. He
suggested as a slogan for the COM
mission two felonS in every fam
lily"
Under questioning by committee
members, Stayton said his asSocia-
ton did not approve the SABBATH
resolution providing for govern
ment liquor dispensary system SINH
lar to Canada's, or the Norton
measure calling for referendum
on prohibition.
He explained. however, that the
association is in sympathy with the
purpose of the latter resolution, dis
approving only the form in which
It was drawn.
Prohibition Assailed
Stayton said what he wanted was
return of liquor to the legal status
1t had before adoption of the eight
zenith amendment. The saloon, he
said. could not return If this we're
done. because the states have been
educated to diSapproYe Of the sa-
loon system.
GraySon NJ. P. Murphy. New York
banker and director of the AsSocia-
ton Against the Prohibition
Amendment, indicted prohibition on
the following counts:
1T is contrary to the spirit of the
Constitution; it has brought unfair
tactics in law enforcement such as
wire tapping. undercover operations
and careless murders by federal off,
GERS; crime, corruption and hypoc-