Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13


amendment"
Takes Crack at w. C. r. U.
Turning to the Womens Christian
Temperance Union, Bruce said he hoped
"these splendid but misguided women
will soon get back to the temperance
that was their aim and leave prohibit
ton alone"
Assailing what he termed the fright
full crime conditions in Chicago" he
said "the real spring of this pollution
Is prohibition"
He asserted that he knew. "of course.
that majority of this committee is
adverse to the measures now under
consideration"
He said that 70 per cent Of all the
stills confiscated throughout the coun-
try were taken in the States of the old
Co1federAcy.
The good men and women who
brought about prohibition have given to
criminal men the touch of Midas" he
said.
Among the cities and States which
he mentioned as having had prohibition
scandals were Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Chicago, South Bend, Ind; Oklahoma,
Alabama, Georgia. Maryland, Idaho,
Bruce had only half completed his
testimony when recess was taken for
lunch.
Referendum Plan Explained.
At the outset of her testimony Mrs
lions to repeal the eighteenth amend
ment explained her measure, which
would amend the Constitution to permit
q referendum on the eighteenth amend
ment.
Mrs. Norton said referendum would
give voters the privilege of registering
their own will.
THE drys express their confidence
that they have an overwhelming ma
| 1ority Of the people of the United States
| in favor of the eighteenth amendment"
she said. If so, why should they not
welcome this test? Why should they
not welcome the direct approval of the
| eighteenth amendment by the people
themselves, the approval which the
| people have not heretofore had an op-
| portunity to express?
Regardless their convictions as to
the eighteenth amendment, the Ameri-
can people are q good people; they are
good intentioned, they want to be fair.
A normal American citizen, regardless
OF the beliefs on the eighteenth amend-
ment. would readily concur in the prin-
ciples that the eighteenth amendment
should not remain in the Constitution
without majority approval of the peo-
| pie OF the United States.
II believe that practically every In
telligent dry who can give this his con-
siderate judgment will concede that It
IS best for this country that the eight
zenith amendment should cease to be
part OF the Constitution when a ma
Jority Of the people of the Nation 40
to the polls and register their judg-
ment against It,
This resolution proposes nothing
unsound; nothing that offerds against
the best Judgment Of a normal-mif1ded,
wholesome, intelligent American citizen.
Power Over Commerce Retained.
This resolution further provides that
In case the people vote for the repeal
OF the eighteenth amendment Congress
snail still retain the power to prohibit
the Interstate transportation OF ifltoxi-
eating liquors in violation Of State laws.
rms right Is expressly retained In the
FEDERAL Government to give the Federal
Government power over interstate conn
merce IN the transportation of liquors.
The further provision is that, not
wlthstanding the repeal of the
eighteenth amendment, no State shall
permit or authorize the conduct of
saloon. L believe the American people
on the whole are well satisfied with
discarding the saloon. They do not
want to see 1t return.
Many people, strongly convinced Of
the evils OF prohibition, would object to
returning the prohibitive power to the
States alone II they thought such
course would lead to the return of the
saloon. Therefore, believe this pro-
vision preventing the States would re-
move this question from our problem
ana permit the fair determination Of
this question.
IF the people OF the United States
should repeal the eighteenth amend
ment, the power would be restored to
each State to follow its own policies
In reference to this question. 1t will
deny no State the opportunity to work
out It's own destiny. It win relieve un-
wiling States from the operation of a.
Federal law that to people of great
sections OF this country is unwelcome,
obnoxious and what they regard as un-
warranted interference with their local
affairs.
THE repeal Of the eighteenth amend
ment would restore us the same con-
stitutlonal government adopted by our
! forefatherS before the eighteenth
amendment was adopted. It would
grant, instead of deny, the right Of local
self-government to the States"
Declares Constitution Weakened,
Following Mrs. Norton, Mrs. Sabin
| told the committee that at first the
women of the land thought that pro-,
hibition would strengthen weak char
acter.
"They are now realizing with heart
burnings and heart achings," she as
serted, that II the spirit is not within,
legislation can be Of no avail.
They thought they could make pro-
hibition as strong as the Constitution
but instead they have made the Con-
stitution as weak as prohibition
Applause greeted this statement.
Her hands shook as she denounced
politicians who, she said, were PERSONAL
ly wet but who responded to the whip
of the Anti-Saloon League and the
Methodist Board OF Temperance to vote
| dry.
Numerous times she was applauded.
| until Chairman Graham of the COM
mittee rebuked the audience for what
he described as an unnecessary DEM
onstration."
While the old-time corner saloon has
/ been closed, Mrs. Sabin said, 1--WE still
| have them in far worse form-unreQu.
lated and uncontrolled. I refer" she
continued, "tb what might be called the
co-educational speakeasy. In pre-pro-
hibition days mothers had little to fear
Z in regard to the saloon as far as their
| children were concerned. saloon
keepers license was revoked If he were
! caught selling liquor to minors.
To-day in any speakeasy Id the