Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
BY THEODORE c. wALLEN.


washington Correspondent OF the New York
Herald-Tribune.
There is a growing conviction in
washington that q majority II not all
Of the Wickersham Commission has
come to the conclusion that prohibition
in its present form is not enforceable.
That this feeling is shared by conserva-
tive authorities of high responsibility
suggests authoritative origin.
Certain of these individuals go so far
as to say that the Wickersham Com
mission, or a majority of 1t, must rec
ommend some change in q system Whlch
it believes can never succeed. George
W. Wickersham, the chairman, already
has announced that 1t will not deal
with the merits Of the eighteenth
amendment. Accordingly, any recon-
mendation from the commission Tor
change in the prevailing system neces-
sarily would call for modification.
Since the courts have held for more
than a half century that beer having
Der cent or less of alcoholic content is
IN fact n-intoxicating, 1t is consld-
cred possible that the commission, or
rather a part of 1t, will recommend
modification of the volstead act to per-
nit beer of ATS or per cent alcononc
content. ,,
in the commission is vouchsafed in IN
formed quarters. In fact, so much dit-
ference of opinion is reported 10 prevail
on the means to remedy the existing
order as to promise a divided report, but
with a majority standing for an extern
sion of the present alcoholic limit OF
one-haf of ! per cent.
Search and Seizure Issue.
In line with the policy of the Depart
ment of Justice to stress honest and de-
cent enforcement methods, to avoid Of
Tending law-abiding citizens, the COM
mission is expected also to recommend
steps TO end the gross abuses OF the
right of search and seizure so deeply
resented throughout the country.
The report OF the commission is to be
laid before Congress in the December
session. according to present plans.
Especially in view of the primary re-
suits rejecting dissatisfaction with pro-
hibition as it stands, any recommends
ton for modification which the COM
mission might make is expected 10 De
hailed not only by vets but by the large
group of border-line members OF Con-
0ress as a basis Of modification action
during the Winter In this way the
forces of modification, according 10
some OF their leaders, might, after all,
translate into some legislative action
the sentiment shown in the primaries.
otherwise the vets would have to be
content to accept only psychological
advantage in the approach to the preSi-
Dental election OF 1892 for the extra
congressional support they have won in
the primaries. What they have gained
is admitted to be insufficient by Tar TO
unset the drys' control of Congress.
They would have to look for border
line support to bring about any change
in the enforcement statutes. 1t Is here,
they believe, that psychological erect
will count heavily. great many drys
who withstood the shock OF the "terrinc
campaign of the VETS" as the Anti
saloon League called 1t, were neverthe-
less impressed, admittedly, that the
vets progress reflected turn in public
sentiment at the least protest against
the prevailing conditions.
Welcome Legislation.
This group, 1t is believed. would well
come q chance TO vote for legislation
which the Wickersham Commission, or
a majority of it. was willing TO sponsor.
1t is the view, however, Of Deets Pickett
of the Methodist Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals that the
extreme drys will yield TO no measure
of modification whatever. He has said
that the real drys" have been all over
the ground and satisfied themselves that
any such proposal as to raise the alco-
holic limit to per cent would be Inn
practicable In enforcement In their
judgment it would inevitably lead to
the establishment Of the saloon and
"the other evils of distribution"
Outstanding dry leaders, speaking
confidentially, concede that there Is
more to the wet gains in the primaries
than the result of extra effort and ex-
penditures by the professional wet lead
ers. Several of them were in Washing
ton during the week for conference OF
organizations supporting the eighteenth
amendment. Certain of these leaders
see in the primary results a gradual
Republican national drift toward modi-
fication on the one hand and a Demo-
cratic drift toward repeal on the other.
They would not be surprised II this dis
tinctions were to be made clear in the
presidential nominating convention
nearly two years hence, with the efforts
OF responsible Republican leaders d.
rectsd toward modification and the ef-
forts of the Democratic leadership aimed
at repeal.
Such a situation would offer small
comfort to the extreme drys. Their
leaders, foreseeing It., appear To be lay