Evening star., 1931-12-11
WOODCOCK'S RETORTS TO WET
CRUSADERS WIN THEIR PLAUDITS
Wit and Tolerance OF Dry
Enforcement Head Meets
Militant Challenge.
Agents More "GentIemanly," "
Speaker Tells Audience.
Jazz Spirit Scored.

Prohibition Director Woodcock won
the applause of militant vets at the
: Carlton Hotel last night for the wit and
| tolerance of his answer to their chal-
! lenge to free debate
He replied for more than an hour TO
/ questions directed at him from the
{ floor OF meeting called by the Cru
/ saders, whose goal is repeal of the dry
| law.
While the audience opposed him in
! principle, Col. Woodcock was applauded
from time to time for his statements
, as the lone defender of the eighteenth
amendment
Agents More "GentlemanIy."
In particular he was cheered en-
Enthusiastically when he declared that
Federal dry agents are enforcing the
law In more gentlemanly" manner
today than ever before.
Col. Woodcock acknowledged to the
Crusaders that their efforts were max
ing his task more difficult, but de-
clared:
Il would rather have our task much
harder than to deprive you Of your
right to question and to urge what you
IilLlh is most wise.
The speaker reasserted that the aim
OF Federal enforcement is to curb "the
commercial violator, particularly of the
larger type" The normal individual
ne said, although a potential offender
through illegal possession OF liquor, can
only be reached by temperance educa-
ton
Problems Outlined.
In a prepared address which Col
Woodcock delivered prior to answering
extemporaneouS questions he told some
thing OF problems confronting the Fed
eral enforcement agency.
He characterized "the real problem"
OF enforcement as temperance educa-
ton leading toward that much mis-
used word, culture"
While conceding there is increased
oIhklng now among "a certain class
VINO prefer a jazz Jig TO a Chopin
waltz" Col Woodcock quoted ancient
and modern PHILOSOPHERS in support of
a healthier, more normal pleasure than
that induced by alcohol.
Scores Modern Society.
He declared that materialistic ideals
are making enforcement extremely diff
hcult. Was there ever a time" he
asked, when the printed page which
reaches the people was so lacking In
those enduring qualities Of truth and
beauty? Was there ever a time when
the plays and the music which people
near were so utterly trivial and un-
worthy?
Running through the whole miser.
aoie mess OF sensation and jazz there
Is one idea-that getting money ts the
test of human success When YOU set
up rules of human conduct based solely
upon what Is practical and not upon
what Is right, the situation is a hard
one Tor the enforcing Of any law"
ASKED II he could cite from history
single example of another law" en-.
Iorcso over the protest and against the
principles of millions of normal
Col. Woodcock replied:
Believes Law Enforceable.
You want me to say that prohibition
cannot be enforced"
A burst of good d-natured laughter
greeted this remark and several heck
!ers from the audience urged Col.
Woodcock TO do just that. This. how
ever, he refused to concede.
Ihe meeting was presided over by
Jonn r. Dryden, executive commander
OF the Washington Battalion of Crusa-
GERS, who put several prepared questions
to Col. Woodcock.
DO you consider State cooperation
essential to the effective enforcement
of the national prohibition law?" Dry
den asked. The query drew an en-
phatic yes" from the speaker.
Defines "yioIator."
Asked TO define "a commercial yio-
lator," Col. Woodcock said such a vio-
lator was any person who manufactures
or sells liquor.
Col. Woodcock had only a general
reply to offer when asked How many
men and how much money, in your
opinion. would be required to enforce
questioned as to the Prohibition Bu-
reaus policy toward the manufacture
ana sale OF potential wine bottled as
irult juices, Col. Woodcock replied that
and dealers will be prose-
cuteo IN cases where there is a reason
apie certainty that intent to violate the
prohloition law can be proved.
ne SAID that most beverages and
grape prlcks" OF this nature cannot
De used for any other purpose" than the
production of illegal wine,
Sees Better Enforcement.
The most prolonged applause Of the
evening came when Col. Woodcock, in
reply to question as to whether he
thought the law was better enforced
now than three years ago, replied that
at least 1t was enforced in "a more
manner"
He did not know, he admitted. If
there Is more or less liquor being con-
sumed now
Have you found it diffcult," Col.
Woodcock was asked finally, Ito get
agents OF high enough moral caliber?"
No" he declared. I'VE have spent
a great deal Of time and thought upon
better selection and training Of agents,
Probably the best thing that has been
done is the lowering Of the age limit
TO 50 years and the making of intelli-
gence and character the only qualifi
cations.
our idea Is 10 take the men before