Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-03
RULING AIDS DRY
STAND ON GRAPES
Woodcock Has Access to
Supreme Court Decision
Against Appurtenances.

Although Prohibition Director Wood
cock regards the campaign of Western
grape growers for increased production
of fermentable grape juice as "a bridge
will not cross until ] come to it," hi
may have the benefit of recent SUI
preme Court decision in any counter
move designed to discourage home man.
ufacture of wine.
If the Government is unable or dis
inclined to attack the problem at the
grape source. under ruling of the Su-
preme Court it might take steps to
stem the sale of appurtenances for
making and bottling homemade wine
1t was pointed out here today.
Whether Director Woocock will take
advantage Of the courts decision, rem
dered last May, is a matter of specu-
lation, in view of the directors out
spoken opinion that home manufacture
ton cannot be interfered with by the
Government.
Grape Industry Stirred.
It was this announced opinion that
stirred tie California grape industry
and led to plans for finding q wine out
let for their great surplus of products.
On top of plans of the California
growers came an announcement yes
terday from Seattle of the intention of
grape interests there of submitting to
the State Legislature the question of re-
peal or modification Of the State bone
dry prohibition law.
According to the Associated Press, the
Belle Island Grape Growers Union of
Grapeville, Wash, asserted in a reso-
luton that manufacture of light wine
for home use is mot immoral" and
now is countenanced by the Federal
Prohibition Enforcement Bureau and
approved by many leading drys of the
Nation
Grapes are an agricultural product
of Washington" the resolution stated,
land their use should be fostered rather
than Disseminated against"
The Supreme Court decision that is
available in support of any steps to dis
courage home manufacture of wine or
beer provides that persons who sell bar
rels, bottles, corks and labels are sub
ject to prosecution when the articles
are offered in such way as purpoSely
to attract purchasers who intend to
manufacture Intoxicating liquor Illegally
Opinion by Justice Holmes.
The opinion was rendered by Justice
Holmes in a case brought by Ike Dono-
vftz Of Pittsburgh. There was no dis
sent
Referring to use of the word manu-
facture" in consideration Of violations,
the court said:
I'VE are of the opinion that the
he d.,
and that If the empty containers and
other objects seized were offered for
sale in such a mode as purposely to
attract purchasers who wanted them
for the unlawful manufacture as we
interpret the word, they were designed
for that manufacture and could be
seized"
All hinges. it seems. on interpreta-
ton by prohibition officials of what IS
meant by unlawful manufacture. II,
as is indicated by recent developments
in enforcement circles, home manufac-
ture Is not unlawful, then the courts
opinion Is Of no value in the present
MRS. Mabel walker wiiiaebrandt. for
mer Assistant Attorney General In
charge Of prohibition, appeared recent
~ before the Federal Farm Board on
behalf Of Fruit Industries, Inc, a Co
Of the California grape industry.
Confers on Heme Beverages.
Rev. e. C. Dinwiddie, secretary Of the
Methodist Episcopal Board of Temper
ance, Prohibition and Public Morals,
said yesterday he had talked with Mrs.
Willebrandt at various times concerning
the making Of grape beverages in the
home, according to the Associated Press
tsT Hnrrsf 11nAer~fapA all fIrore
that has been aroused by MIR. Wood
cocks statement of the Governments
attitude toward the making Of beverage
In the home" he said.
1T is an old proposition" he added.
"Dr. Doran. during his term as pro1i-
bition administrator. said the same
> thing ID months ago. Representative
identical views in his speech ON the
subject IN the House"
The Volstead act makes Illegal the
manufacture of any product or article
with intent of use for making intoxi-
eating liquor. He characterized this
section as broad and stressed that an
advertising campaign for marketing
grapes with the intent that they be
used for wine would be unlawful, whether
or not the advertising suggested wine
making.
Prosecution of such activity would in
volve question of the intellectual hon
esty of the advertisers, Woodcock
pointed out, adding that Q campaign
to stimulate grape juice making would
naturally be immune.
Woodcock was out Of the city today.
He viii make an inspection tour Of the
New York State district and continue
from there to Chicago TO survey eondi-
tons. Before leaving he said he found
fha cifiiofinY1 N whora he
went last week, almost ideal"