Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
Referendum Appeal Backed
With Denunciation of
Existing Conditions.
MRS. NORTON PRESENTS
VIEWS AT HOUSE HEARING
Mrs. Sabin Declares Drys Have
made Constitution as Weak
as Prohibition"
BY the Associated Press.


A group of outspoken women demand
ed of Congress today that prohibition
be placed squarely before the voters of
the Nation and that the count of the
ballot boxes decide whether America
shall continue dry.
One after another they appeared be-
fore the House judiciary committee and
urged that the Norton resolution to
authorize a referendum on the question
be approved. They backed up this APP
peal with a denunciation of conditions
as they exist today and argued that
decade of the dry statue had produced
situation the voters themselves should
be called upon to settle.
It was the second days session of
the hearing started by the committee
on batch of measures asking either
outright repeal of the eighteenth
amendment or a referendum on the
question. The first witness was Mrs.
Mary T. Norton, a Democratic Repre-
sentative from New Jersey, sponsor Of
a referendum resolution.
Appeals for State Rights.
She said that a normal American
eighteenth amendment, would readily
concur in the principle that the amend
ment should not remain in the Consti-
tuition without majority approval of
the people of the United States"
Then she argued that actual voters
be given an opportunity to express
themselves, and added:
1.-THE repeal of the eighteenth
amendment would restore Us the same
hxJ
our forefatherS before the eighteenth
amendment was adopted 1t would
grant, instead of deny, the right OF
local self-government to the States"
Mrs. Charles H. Sabin followed her
to the witness chair. She Is q former
Republican national committeewoman
from New York and represented the
Women's Organization for National
Prohibition Reform.
said, thought that prohibition would
strengthen a weak character. They
are now realizing with heartburnings
and heart aching" she asserted, that
If the spirit is not within legislation
can be of no avail"
: Applause rang from the spectators
when she added: "They thought they
could make prohibition as strong as
the Constitution, but instead they have
made the Constitution as weak as
prohibition"
Outright Repeal Asked.
Next to testify was Mrs. David Holmes
Morton Of Brooklyn. She Is secretary
OF the Women's Committee for Repeal
of the Eighteenth Amendment.
I'VE demand outright, unequivocal
repeal Of the eighteenth amendment,
free from modification, compromise or
substitute" she declared, adding that
1t was up to Congress to work out
details of how this should be done.
Miss Louise Gross of New York, chair
man of the National Womens Modera-
ton League, appeared after Mrs. Morton.
When she concluded, William Cabel
Bruce of Maryland, former Senator
and one of the most caustic critics of
prohibition, began his testimony.
Miss Gross at one juncture was ap-
plauded, ard again Chairman Graham
rebuked the spectators.
When she concluded, Mrs. Norton ex-
planned that Miss Gross was the last
woman witness. The New Jersey mem
Der again said she knew nothing of
beneficial nature the eighteenth
amendment had brought about except
possibly abolition of the saloon.
Yates Becomes Indignant.
The audience applauded. Repre-
sentative Yates. Republican, Of Illinois
demanded that the audience remain
silent land cease this unnecessary
noise" Yates then declared, IF we
are going to have a town meeting here,
I shall withdraw"
Chairman Graham retorted:
IT have asked the audience to re-
strain its emotions, but 1t seems i'm
possible for them to do so. The chair
man can't throw them out personally
and bodily, and the chairman wants
mony."
Former Senator Bruce began by say
ing If he were dying, he would rather
have a raven perched upon my bed
post than to be compelled to turn for
consolation to sctle of the hybrid
preacher-politician who are doing all
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