Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-21
WOODCOCK URGES
HOME OPTION" AS
RUM RELIEF PLAN
Plan Made While Prober In
cIuded in WiCkersham Data
Presented Senate.
GIVES IDEA PRIVATE
LIQUOR MAKING O. K.
Value of Swedish Control System
Stressed-Labor Favors Beer
and Wine.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate had before it today a be-
wildering mass of documents, data and
testimony on liquor control from the
Wicsersham Commission.
1t represented part of the material on
which the commission made its con-
f1icting report on prohibition. Secret
testimony was missing. The views of
Secretary Mellon, Attorney General
Mitchell and other officials were not
included. Standing out from the mass
was Prohibition Director Woodcocks
suggestion, made before taking the Of
fee, that home option" was the solu-
ton of the liquor problem.
The pile revealed also that John Mot
ley Morehead, Minister to Sweden, urged
a modification of the Swedish system of
liquor control for the United States.
Mabel Walker Willebrandt's defense of
the legality of grape concentrates was
detailed
Recommendations for a veritable
army of Federal officers to enforce pro-
hibition, attacks on the dry laws by
labor leaders and reports on conditions
In 80 States were included in the data
submitted.
Action May Be Held Up.
The Senate is expected to take no
action at present as a result of the
glimpse behind commission scenes. It
may cause argument, but even that is
not expected to be extensive. March 4
Is at hand and the Senate is wear.
The material was transmitted late
yesterday to the Senate in Response to
resolution by Senator Tydings, Demo-
crat Maryland, an opponent Of the
liquor laws.
Mr.. Woodcock's suggestion that leav-
ing liquor undiSturbed in private homes
might close the lid on Pandora'S prohi-
bition box was unique and startling. It
was made while he was a special in
vestigator for the commission, oEly a
little while before he became prohibi-
ton director. He said his plan could
be put into effect by simple admin
1strative policy"
THE citizen could not claim the right
TO buy or sell liquor" he added. But
Il ne possessed nquor. or makes liquor
In his home, and In such q way as not
to be observed by the public and If he
properly supports his family, this policy
would require that he be not disturbed.
Punishments Are Provided.
eff he fails in single public duty,
II he breaks the peace in any way, If he
fails to take care of his family, If he
fails to keep himself fit to perform any
public duty, the State steps in and
Furnishes
The home control plan was only q
part of Mr.. Wocdcock's report, but the
remainder was more orthodox. He was
optimistic over conditions generally and
said he believed they could be i'm
proved.
Support for the revision program ad-
vanced by Henry w. Anderson, Rich
mond, Va, commission member, was
seen in testimony of Minister Morehead,
who said the Bratt system in force in
Sweden was successful because 'it takes
away from the private individual any
profit"
He added, he believed it would be
o success in this country with some
notifications.
LAS a matter of fact" he said, sit is
the one system in the world that does
work. It produces revenue for the
country. The people are satisfied"
Grape Concentrates Defended.
Mrs. Willebrandt, former Assistant
Attorney General in charge of prohibi-
ton, who has as client California Fruit
Industries, Inc makers of grape con-
centrates which turn into wine If given
the opportunity. told the commission
the grape concentrate business is legal,
and said it was 1.-The thought of Con-
greSs to lift the heavy hand of
the Volstead act from interfering with
family habits so far as is possible under
the eighteenth amendment"
"A study reveals that Congress was
Just as liberal and as plain as it
could be-
Mr. Woodcock was not the only COM
mission investigator with Recommended
tons to help the situation. Henry S.
Dennison and Albert Sawyer believed 1t
could be done, among other things, ny
an increase of so per cent in the num-
Der OF prohibition agents.
They also urged more Coast Guard
and customs officers, a Nationwide sys-
tenn of criminal information exchanges,
q plain-clothes squad to supplement the
border patrol force and Coast Guard
intelligence unit.
Report OF Two Volumes.
There has not yet been any true test
OF the prohibition laws" they asserted
in a two-volume report.
Twelve labor leaders. who presented
their views TO a commission subcom-
Continued on Page 2, Column 10