The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-28
DRY SENATORS
DROP FIGHT ON
BALLOT TEST
Jones of Washington and
Walsh of Montana Have
Change of Heart.
READY FOR ELECTIONS
Willing to Submit Liquor
Question to Voters of
Their States.
BY NATHAN ROBERTSON
United Fress Staff Correspondent

ChAtSu TUBS stan correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-State
referendunlS to determine whether
''the folks back home" stil want
prohibition were discussed today bv
"bone-dry' senator's, as the admin
iStration laid plans for a supreme
effort to dam the flow of intoxi-
cantS when the justice department
takes over prohibition enforcement
July /.
Senator Walsh Dem, Mont.).
long a dry, joined the equally dry
Senator Jones Rep., WaSh.), today
in agreeing to vote to submit a
constitutional amendment modify.
ing or repeating the eighteenth
amendment to his state if the citi-
zens thereof showed they wanted
to vote on it.
Meanwhile, Senator Sheppard
Dem., Tex), co-author of the pro-
hibition amendment, said he would
give serious consideration" to any
desire Texas might manifest for
such vote.
While senator's discussed referen-
duns, Attorney-G General Mitchell
was planning to strengthen exist
ing regulations affecting industrial
alcohol diversion. He also let it be
known he was consulting with dis
trict attorneys throughout the coun-
try on methods of improving CO.
ordination among investigators and
prosecutors of prohibition law vio-
lationS.
Enforcement Is Shifted
President Hoover Tuesday signed
the Williamson bill, transferring
prohibition enforcement from the
treasury to the justice department.,
effective July l.
Jones' announcement regarding a
referendum was made Tuesday
after the Republican convention in
his state voted against prohibition.
1t created real stir today in wet
and dry circles.
It was viewed as particularly
significant, because Jones, In adj
dition to being author of the
famous five and ten" law, has
helped lead what the vets consider
the radical dry wing Of congress.
The veteran Washington senator
said he does not believe the people
of his. state want modification or
repeal, despite the action of the
Republican convention. But his
agreement in advance to vote 20
submit a modification or repeal
amendment was radical departure
from the attitude heretofore taken
by dry leaders.
4 have no hesitation In saying to
the people Of my state" Jones said,
while not adhering to my personal
conscientious views on prohibition,
if they, in the duly constituted way,
ask congress to submit an amend
ment to the eighteenth amendment
repeating or modifying it, I will vote
for such submission, if I am a mem
Der of the senate at the time such
request is submitted"
Doubts Wet Victory
Jones was confident, however, that
a prohibition referendum in Wash
ington would result in q dry VIC
tory. He contended that the re-
cent convention did not represent
the people of the state and that
those in control of it did not have
the courage to seek a referendum.
Asked for comment on the Jones
statement, Walsh said:
II have been thinking along that
line myself. I feel about the same
way"
Twill you make the same am
lie was asked.
EYES," he replied.
In 1926 Montana voted to repeal
the "bone dry state enforcement
act it had passed in 1916, before
federal prohibition.
The state of Washington was
''bone dry previous to national pro-
hibition. No state vote has been
held there since prohibition went
into effect, but it has been general
ly considered one Of the dryest
states.
Vets were elated by Jones' state
ment.
Seeing the Light
"It looks as if he is beginning to
see the light" said Senator Tydings
dem, Md, one Of the senate's wet
leaders.
Most drys refused to comment, but
Senator Sheppard, said he did not
feel concerned about the statement
because of the political situation in
Jones' state and because the Wash
lngton senator expressed the opinion
that his state still was dry.
Sheppard said, however, that if
his state voted for repeal or modifi-
cation he would give it serious con-
az would not want to bind myself
in advance, however" he said.
The Texas senator declared he
was not disturbed" by the vets