Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-19
Continued From First Page)

1
requires q great deal of time ant
patience. The habits of an Important
section OF q congested part OF the coun'
try cannot be changed over night or tr
years. The reform and the adaptation
| of society to that at which the amend
ment aims must be gradual.
The temptation Of corruption VII
drag 1t out. while looking ahead al
the amendment despaired of any sue
cess, really think that it Is possible
! II we keep at it, to achieve a salts
factory result. The persistence with
which the people maintain in Congress
a two-thirds majority in both Houses
| gives me much hope and am inclined
to think that this viii wear down the
moderate vets to consciousness that
the only solution is pressure IN favor
of enforcement.
IT see that the vets claim that the
election was not a prohibition victory
Well, one cannot argue with that view
| and can only let those who believe ii
continue to believe it.
AS ever yours.
"(Signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT"
Taft is Slender and Angular.
Taft, who wears a gray muStache
similar to that of his late distinguished
! brother is quite slender and angular
| He Is 6 feet inches in height, and is
| SO years old
He was presented by Mrs. Lenna
Lowe YoSt, member of the Legislative
committee Of the National Association
of Organizations Supporting the Eight
zenith Amendment.
Reading from q prepared statement,
Taft said that according to the testi-
mony of those advocating repeal ''our
cocktail heroes are linked with the
Christian martyrs, the men Of '76, and
the leaders of the anti-slavery party, a
connection that argues lack of sense
of humor.
MY brother was opposed to the
adoption Of prohibition. The reasons
that he gave for it in one or two
articles and speeches are much the
same as those used by other men.
When, however, the amendment was
adopted and the law passed he became
convinced that both of them were
beyond repeal. that the policy was
here to stay, and that all good citizens
must observe the law and DO all in their
power to help in its enforcement. There
is no excuse whatever for misunder-
standing this.
THE only two public utterances
which can recall were one in regard
to a proposal to allow beer and light
wines and the other speech at New
Haven at commencement on June 20,
1923.
"Of the first, only remember that
he fatty opposed the proposition for
beer and Light wines. practically on the
grounds I have mentioned above
"As for the second, I can simply offer
IN evidence copy Of the speech have
referred to.
Let me repeat, have no objection
whatever to quoting my brothers
speeches on the subjects made at any
time in his career, but If the mere au-
thority of his name is sought, no one
on the wet side ought to claim it. One
lady, for instance, in a newspaper con-
troversy with dry remarked, I prefer
the wisdom of Chief Justice Taft II
that does not mean that he was on her
side on the main question 1t does not
mean anything at all"
Name Brought in on Wet Side.
In presenting his late brothers posi-
ton IN copy Of a speech before the
committee, Mr.. Taft said that the name
of William II. Taft has been brought
into this discussion and always, think,
on the wet side.
II have read numerous letters" Taft
said, Gin the press and have heard one
or two speeches in which he is quoted
ON that side. am not particularly
impressed by the use Of the names Of
well known men for the mere weight
Of their authority but when such au-
thority is claimed on exactly the OPP
postte side from that taken by the man
in question feel resentment. We are
slaves. An excited gentleman scolds
poor President Hoover because he has
had the assurance to exiort the peo-
pie to obey the law and insist on its
enforcement. Let US hope that the
President viii watch his step.
Most Of the wet witnesses agree
that the people are drinking more than
ever, while at least one Representative
OF the great industry Of agriculture
proves that the farmers are being
ruined because of the lack Of demand
for the grains from which the drink
ables are made.
The vets have had the dificulty Of
facing the overwhelming testimony Of
economists and heads Of great indus
trial concerns to the effect that prohibit
ton has been of immense benefit to
their industries and worth billions Of
dollars year to the country, a sum
so large as to make the cost of enforce
ment and the loss in taxes negligible
In answer 10 this they have put on the
stand as one of their chief witnesses
the head Of great organization which
has had prohibition of an exceptionally
strict kind for all Of their employees
since long before the eighteenth amend
ment was adopted. It Is q sore tempta-
ton to Hnger over his testimony, but
Mrs. Strawbridge, the society leader Of
Philadelphia, has removed his scalp so
neatly and completely that there isn't
tuft Of hair left to pun.
Teachers Testify to Conditions.
witnesses, having in mind that small
but prominent part Of the people called
society, say with great exaggeration
that the young people are drinking more
than ever, while at Atlantic City 10000
school teachers from all over the coun-
try testify that everything Is cleaner
and better In this respect than IN the
old days. Incidentally, 10000, 900 or
10000, 900 young people have come to
the voting age since prohibition was
adopted and yet the dry majority in
Congress grows larger"
The vets, he said, must come down
to earth and see what the facts are and
what the job that faces them is.
THE first big fact in the case is that
at least rs per cent of the members Of
the Lower House are dry and that the
majority has been growing with every
congressional election" Taft asserted.
How do the vets explain it?"
Graham Interrupts Testimony.
Chairman Graham once interrupted
Taft's testimony to ask what the wit