The Washington times., 1931-09-19
By WILLIAM c. MURPHY, JR.


from Washington.
BY WILLIAM C. MURPHY, JR.
President Hoover'S wartime
declaration that 1T is mighty diff
ficult to get drunk on 275 per
cent beer" was recalled today on
the heels Of the revelation that
the White House has called upon
the Census Bureau and Treasury
Department for data on the brew.
Ing industry.
That all but forgotten pro.
1iOuncement, buried in the muSty
records of Mr.. HOOver'S days as
Food Administrator, is being
seized upon as q possible indica-
tiOn of the line Of action the
President will take with respect
to the growing demand for legal
txing beer.
Modification Sought
Fro ma dozen diverse aud in
fluential sources pressure is being
exerted on Mr.. Hoover to come
out for modification of the Vol.
stead Act. Some of the most
powerful business leaders OF the
country have urged legafized cecr
as a remedy for the twin evils
Of higher taxes and unemploy-
ment.
Beer has been represented as
a solvent for the huge grain sur
plus which has wrecked the Ad-
ministration's farm relief plans.
and the American Federation OF
Labor has estimated beer would
provide employment for more
than 100000 joblesS.
Political leaders with apprehen-
Sive eyes on the huge electoral
votes of wet industrial States have
suggested that legalization of beer
even If done under the glliSe of
emergency economic relief. would
enhance Republican chances in
1892.
Situation Complicated
Their theory is that the drys
could be placated by the plea Of
unemployment relief and economic
necessity and the vets would be
pleased by this move toward lib
eralization. Anyway, it is argued,
the drys would have to support
Mr.. Hoover in 1882 or refrain
from voting because the Demo
cratic candidate is almost sure to
be out-and-out wet.
It was on June S, 1918. that Mr..
Hoover made his statement about
the practically Notwithstanding
qualities of wartime beer-which
was only one-quarter Of / per cent
weaker in alcoholic content than
the 3 per cent beer now suggested.
HOOver's Statement
Mr.. Hoover, as food administra-
tor, gave out statement opposing
a proposed amendment to the war
time emergency food act which
would have withheld the necessary
appropriations until President Will
son by proclamation prohibited
the use of cereals or fruits to
make wines or beer.
Food Administrator Hoover said:
"If we stop brewing, the Sa-
looms of the country will still
be open, but confined prac-
tically to a whisky and gin
basis. Amy true advocate Of
temperance and of national eff
cheney in these times will shrink
from this situation, for the ma
tiOnal danger in it is greater
than the use of some 100000
bushels of grain monthly in the
brewerieS."
eff the American people want
prohibition, it should prohibit
by legislation to that end, not
force the Food Administration
to the responsibility for an orgy
of drunkenness. 1t is mighty
difficult to get drunk on 2.75
. per cent beer; it will be easy
enough If we force a SubStitu-
tiOn Of distilled drinks for it."
Fears Borne Out
Those who believe the President
may yet move for modification
think such evidence as presented
in the Wickersham report may
have convinced him that the
"orgy of drunkenness" which he
feared in 1918 afflicts the nation
today and that now, as then, the
remedy may be beer.
Mr.. Hoover. despite the fact
that his name has become kind
of war cry for the dry forces in
politics, has never publicly de-
clared himself unqualifiedly in
favor of prohibition.
Senator Carter Glass Cd of
Virginia, has had a standing
offer for several years to pay
$1,000 to anyone who can produce
q public utterance Of Mr.. Hoover
embracing the dry cause.
The Presidents declarations
have been confined to statements
in favor of law enforcement and
to the nobleness in purpose of the
prohibition experiment" which.