Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-21
.SHOUSE IN FAVOR
|. OF BEER PLATFORM
Democratic Chairman Also
Advocates National Pro-
hibition Referendum.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
A Democratic platform declaring for
light wines and beer and 9 prohibition
referendum are favored by Jouett
Shouse. chairman of the party's Ma
tional Executive Committee.
Other legislation which he would
have Democrats advocate in the COM
ing session Of Congress includes abo-
ntion Of the Farm Board. tariff re-
visions, re-enactment Of the Wagner
bill to establish employment ofices ma
tionally, the f1ve-day week for Federal
employees and opposition TO the use OF
the injunction in labor disputes
Shouse's views, which he described
as entirely personal. were published by
the Woman's National Democratic
Club In the Democratic bulletin. The
bulletin also has asked other party
leaders TO submit their platform ideas
Shouse said the party should pledge
itself for prohibition referendum by
offering q substitute for the eighteenth
amendment. Congress FIRST would have
to pass the substitute Shouse held,
however, in voting on IL the members
need not voice personal Endorsement"
but could merely state a willingness
to offer the people the chance to pass
judgment in the knowledge that unless
and until ratified by three-quarters Of
the States the substitute cannot be
effective"
Immense Revenue Promise.
He urged immediate amendment of
the Volstead act to legaliSe light wines
and beer, contending the beer tax
alone would yield immense revenue and
employment would be provided for
The Democratic leader criticized the
Hoover administration and condemned
national isolation as q foreign policy.
On the intergovernmental debt mora
forum. he said President Hoover
waited until the last minute Of the
last hour of the last day"
After repeal of the Farm Board act
as means for agricultural relief,
Shouse placed reduction of what he
saw as extortionate tariffs. He said
machinery could be devised whereby
"a profitable domestic price for the
stable commodities can be maintained
and the exporting surplus disposed of
at the expense of the crop benefited"
Local regulation was set up as the
way to correct alleged abuses by util-
tiles. II 1t Is necessary for the Govern
ment to produce power to reserve the
sources of power for the people, then IL
WdS d0SO(dbG0 tkAAb SuC4l NC uDAlC.
The open saloon" ShouSe said, was
an evil Of the worst type. Its abolition
was the inStigation motive of proFii1i-
ton legislation. 1t must not be allowed
to return. Equally. the illicit saloons
which have sprung up by the tens Of
thousands must be closed"
Question for the Public.
After suggesting that members OF
Congress vote for q prohibition refer
endum, he added:
Can o real believer in Democratic
doctrines refuse to place before the
people for action question upon which
there is such divergent opinion that
admittedly in many sections Of the
country the demand for a change is
widespread?, Can any real Democrat
maintain that If an overwhelming ma
jority Of the people should. through .
referendum, favor change there Is any
possible excuse TO deny giving 1t to
them?"
He suggested State control II change
be made, with every protection TO those
States which desire q continuance OF
prohibition within their borders"