Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
ShouSe Statement Believed
to Favor Modification or
Repeal.
DIVERGENCE IN VIEWS
IMPUTED TO PRESIDENT
Wartime Approval of Beer Re-
called as Prohibition Sup
port Is Claimed.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

~ 0OOA4O AhENNOANs
President Hoover's position with re-
gard to national prohibition and the
eighteenth amendment, which is held in
some quarters to be one Of open
mind" with regard to the matter Of
revision and in others to be frankly
dry" was dragged into the Senate de-
bate yesterday afternoon on the Howell
prohibition enforcement bill for the
District of Columbia.
At the same time a statement by
Jouett Shouse, chairman Of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, which was interpreted
as placing him on record as favoring
some modification or rejeal of the pro-
moltioE laws, was made public by the
National Committee.
Wheeler Cites Letter.
Senator Wheeler of Montana, Demo-
crat, called attention of the Senate to
published reports that President Hoover
and his secretary, Walter F.. Newton,
mad been at pains to spread the report
10 certain newspaper correspondents
that Mr.. Hoover had not declared
against any and all revision of the
eighteenth amendment or the dry laws
when he said in his letter transmitting
the Wickersham report to Congress
that he was against the revision of the
eighteenth amendment suggested in
that document.
The Montana Senator demanded of
Senator Bingham of Connecticut. au-
thor OF substitute for the Howell bill
permitting manufacture and sale of
beverages with an alcoholic content of
per cent alcohol measured by weight,
whether President Hoover had approved
the substitute.
Il did that" said Senator Wheeler.
Tor the reason that my attention has
been called to several articles in the
press recently stating that after the
President sent his message to Congress
stating In substance that he was In
favor OF the prohibition law as it now
stands, and against the recommends
ton OF the commission that some
amendment should be made, thereafter
he seemed to have changed his mind.
Statements were given out by different
members Of the Senate to the effect
his mind was still open"
Senator Brookhart Replies.
Senator Wheeler had particular ref
erence to q statement by Senator Tess
Of Ohio, Republican national chairman
a.
the dry, Immediately rose to reply to
Senator Wheeler.
II think" said Senator Brookhart,
"the Senator (Mr. Wheeler) is entirely
mistaken about that proposition. am
a modiflcationist myself but I want to
modify the law and make it stronger
and better to enforce"
Does the Senator think that the
President is Of the same opinion?" de-
nnanded Senator Wheeler
Everything he has said indicates
that he wants better enforcement" re-
piled Brookhart. His message is plain
and to the point on that feature. This
is one time am going to sustain the
President of the United States" con-
tinued the insurgent Iowa Senator,
amid laughter.
"Of course" said Senator Wheeler,
IT realize that the Senator from Iowa
wants to think the President is as dry
as he himself is just the same as he
wanted during the last campaign to
think that the President was Just as
progressive as he was. But / am sure
he will find that he will be just as
much disappointed in the Presidents
dryness as he was in the Presidents
progressiveness."
ShOuse Statement Issued.
While the Senate was debating the
extent of President Hoover's feeling for
the eighteenth amendment, the Demo-
cratic National Committee was sending
broadcast a statement by Jouett
Shouse, chairman of its Executive
Committee, which placed this executive
head of the Democratic organization on
record as favoring revision, If not re-
peal, Of the national prohibition laws.
Mr.. Shouse'S statement in regard to
prohibition appears in a survey which
he wrote for the February issue of the
Atlantic Monthly. Handed to the press
by the Bureau of Publicity of the
Democratic National Committee, it was
interpreted as rejecting the views of
the national organization, although Mr..
Shouse makes the statement that he is
speaking for himself alone.
Upon prohibition, Mr.. Shouse said:
''The Democratic party has thus far
taken no national stand I am not
attempting to speak for any one ex-
cept myself. But I do not hesitate to
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