Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
SOUGHT
FOR HOWELL BILL
D. C. Enforcement Debate Is
Expected to Arise in
Senate Tomorrow.

Supporters of the District prohibition
enforcement bill will continue the
effort tomorrow to have the Senate
resume consideration of the measure
recess having been taken yesterday
without vote on the motion of Sen
ator Howell of Nebraska to proceed
with the local bill.
Fer three hours yesterday Senators
debated the dry law from a national
standpoint, with occasional references
to the Howell bill. There is no appro-
priation bill ready to be taken up in
the Senate tomorrow, so that the day
is likely to be devoted to a continue
ton of the discussion over the Howell
bill The local enforcement measure
was laid aside early last week after 1t
had been partially considered. The
motion which win be pending when the
Senate convenes tomorrow WILL If
adopted bring the local dry bill back
before the Senate for further consid-
Grafton.
Morrison Defends Prohibition.
The debate yesterday on national
aspects of prohibition was featured by
the speech of Senator Morrison, DEM
ocrat of North Carolina. who sounded
a warning that dry Democrats viii
fight any attempt by opponents of pro-
hibition to commit the party to wet
policy.
Senator Morrison, who was appointed
to the Senate recently to succeed the
late Senator Overman, vigorously de-
Tended the eighteenth amendment,
after the law had previously been at
tackled by Senators Blaine. Republican.
of Wisconsin, and Tydings, Democrat,
of Maryland After Senator Morrison
had concluded, Senator Walsh, Demo-
crat, of Massachusetts, argued for reg
ulation in place of prohibition and at
the same time voiced objection to the
pending bill for the District OF Co
lumbia.
81 am a party Democrat" said Sea-
ator Morrison. II am also dry, and I
believe millions of the Democrats of
this country feel as 1 do, that If the
great city organizations in array against
the eighteenth amendment and the
prohibition laws should capture the
Democratic party and put wet plat
form in it they will not drive many
Democrats in my country out OF the
party, but we WIN never submit our
conSciences upon that matter to the
decree of any party captured by any
group who undertake to forget that in
their conSciences the great millions
whom make up the Democratic party
are divided; and whenever they I'M
dertake to do it, even if successful, they
will never change enough votes within
the Democratic party to give 1t any
effect. The prohibition!sts in the
Democratic party are not without
courage. AS a new representative from
my State I want to give warning now
that we will fight to the utmost of our
rights under the rules of the party
against undertaking to bind the con-
sciences of the Democrats OF the
country about this matter"
Public Drinking Clause Hit.
In reply, Senator Tydings said he pre-
ferred ito fight out legislative matters
in the Senate" and party matters In
other meetings where they belong.
Earlier in the debate Senator Tydings
said he objected to being called "a wet
Senator" The Maryland Senator de-
clared he Is not contending for beer, or
wine or liquor, but for the principle OF
local responsibility in this matter.
Turning to discussion OF the Howell
bill, Senator Tydings said the author OF
the measure did not seem interested In
the proposal the Marylander made sew
eral days ago for referendum on the
question in the District. Senator Tyd-
ings said he did not believe the people
of Washington want the pending bill.
In the closing argument of the day,
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, object
ed to the section of the Howell bill fix
ing penalties for drinking in public.
He said he thought the importance OF
1Continued on Page 2, Column s.