Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-11

Acceptance Of the fact that a drastic
dry law for the District Of Columbia
has been side-tracked in Congress for
the present session is accompanied by
various conclusions. It Is declared
that one of the chief motives was the
avoidance of debate which would pre-
vent completion of the program for
the session. Wet partisans hold that
militant drys have suffered a check,
while dry arguments are based on the
belief that the measure viii be revived
at the next session.
mo great injury has been done the
dry cause" in the opinion Of the Madi-
son Wisconsin State Journal, which,
however, believes that prohibition will
receive much more aid from the move
ment that has been founded in Chicago,
in the American Business Mems Founda-
ton, than can be given by any en-
forcement law that might be proposed
or adopted" The State Journal COM
mends the intensive educational cam
paign" proposed by that organization,
and concludes that "the educational
fight is the only method by which the
eighteenth amendment can be retained
as an active force"
1.-THE Howell BILL" it is suggested by
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, sis
of highly contentious nature, going fur
ther in its search and seizure provisions
as to the home than such drys as SEN
ators Glass, George and Borah could
approve; in addition, 1t was made the
vehicle of wet proposals in the form
of amendments that promised almost
endless controversy" As a source of
delay, the Bulletin links with this
measure the Muscle Shoals appropria-
ton and notes that "the Democrats
showed themselves opposed to legis-
lation likely to provoke controversy and
delay the supply bills"
"Just now there is a large number
of Senator'S" states the Baltimore Sun,
who wish little time to size up mat
tiers before they go on record by cast
ing votes. Every reader can make up
his own mind what that means. We
may say there is no evidence that any
Senator opposed to national prohibi-
ton fears to vote. And it may also
be pointed out, as worthy of passing
notice, that the Howell fight shows
there is no new idea among the drys.
Acknowledging a breakdown in en-
forcement in the Capital, the one re-
source of men like Senator Howell is
more law and yet more law"
X 4 X X
The bill would ''have gone to an OBJ
noxious and dangerous extreme" In the
opinion of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette,
observing that zone of its main pro-
visions would have permitted homes to
be searched upon mere suspicion that
the Volstead law was being violated. !"
The Post = Gazette emphasizes the
point that "the Wickersham Commits
sion was able to ngree upon only few
points, but it should be noted that one
of them was definite and emphatic
opposition to legislation allowing more
latitude in Federal searches and
seizures 1t is doubtful whether a law
of this character would stand the test
of constitutionality," adds that paper.
referring to the provisions of the Bill
of Rights.
which were not votes against prohi-
bition," the Lynchburg News refers to
the desire of "the great majority in
Congress" to expedite business, and
states: Some of them may have
been against prohibition, but even
these voted also for getting rid of
controversial measure that wasn't
pressing, in order to take up measures
that are pressing and which must be
passed" The News Is convinced that
those who find in the vote to shelve
In Congress are binding their vision
with vain hopes. It will be time
enough to look for these things when
the bill comes up on its merits at the
next session."
"In the last analysis" argues the
Morgantown Dominion News, "the
Senate action can only mean one
thing. It must mean that members of
Congress are convi1ce6 that the remedy
for the situation which has been
created by the passing OF the eight
zenith amendment is not to Be found in
q continuation of the Gresent methods
Of dealing with that situattoe, Ger