Evening star., 1932-12-09
UNIT
PREPARES FIGHT.
National Convention Opens to
Study Means of Blocking
Wet Proposals.

Gathering their forces here during
the midst of the wet drive for beer,
light wines and repeal, the Anti-Saloon
League of America, in specially called
national convention at the Raleigh
Hotel today launched into an intensive
study OF ways and means to resist re-
peal of the eighteenth amendment.
For four days the leading figures of
the league will work on the problem
and hold series of rallies at various
churches
The rally tonight will be held at the
First Congregational Church, Tenth
and G streets beginning at 7:30 O'Clock.
Among the speakers listed are Bishop
Ernest G. Richardson of Philadelphia,
president of the Anti-Saloon League;
DR.. F.. Scott Mcbride, general superin-
tendent of the league, who will speak
on the subject Repeal, Repeal; DR..
A. j. Barton of Wilmington, N. c.,
chairman Of the Executive Committee
of the league, who is president of the
National Conference of Organizations
Supporting the Eighteenth Amend
raent, and Bishop w. N. Ainsworth Of
Birmingham, Ala.
Pilgrimage Planned.
Tomorrow morning there will be an
other conference of workers and to-
morrow afternoon there will be Con
stitutional Caravan" in the form of q
pilgrimage to points Of historic interest
Tomorrow nights rally will be at CAL
vary Baptist Church, and the Sunday
afternoon rally will be held at 2:30
O'Clock at the First Congregational
Church.
The convention will close Monday
afternoon with roll call rally at the
First Congregational Church.
Latest developments in the prohibi-
ton situation were laid before the first
session of State superintendents and
workers this morning at the hotel.
Sergt. Alvin G. York, famous World
War figure. and now president Of the
Alvin c. York Agricultural Institute, at
jamestown, Tenn, drew on his expe-
riences in war, to counsel the league
leaders at the noon luncheon confer
ence today to take new courage, fortify
yourself, and go forward to win new
battles
went to Sleep on job"
'The Anti-Saloon League went to
sleep on the job" charged Sergt. York
After gaining sufficient dry strength
throughout the country to lead prohibi-
tion forces in putting the eighteenth
amendment in the Constitution and en-
acting the Volstead act, the speaker said
the league had gone to Sleep" and aft
er losing principal battle in the loss
Of Is States which now have no State
enforcement codes, it had walked up"
Put on an educational program
against intoxicating liquors throughout
the country" advised the speaker. Turn
back from worldly things and 20 back
to prayer to help accomplish your pur-
pose" he advised. IF a war is on, and
you lose one battle, don't give up. You
should take courage, fortify yourself,
take new heart and go forward to
fight. Now is the time for a new
battle"
Declaring he had voted for Roosevelt
for President, Sergt. York insisted, how
ever, that he did not agree with Roose-
velt's wet program. The Nationwide
Democratic vote which swept this party
into power in November, York believes,
was not wet" protest, but an
economic" protest. There was no real
choice for the drys to make between
Hoover and Roosevelt" said Sergt. York,
so voted for my party, like many
other drys throughout the country
Prefers Eighteenth Amendment.
Admitting that the congressional
situation looked strongly wet, he said
personally he was against both repeal,
and return Of light wines or beer, but
that If the vets were determined to get
something. he hoped it would be only
light wines and beer, leaving the
eighteenth amendment in the Constitu-
ton.
With him Sergt York brought the
Tennessee Mountain Quartet, which
sang with Homer Rodeheaver at the
luncheon today and will be heard at
future sessions. The quartet consists of
Clyde Wright, Eugene Wright, Kelly
Brooks and Ray Dunford One Of the
songs they sang appropriate to the
occasion, The Hotter the Battle. the
Sweeter the Victory" was written by
Eugene Wright of the quartet.
Others on the program at the noon
luncheon were DR.. Melbourne P. Boyn-
ton Of Chicago Dr. r. L. Wood of Pet
worth Methodist Episcopal Church of
this city and George H. Wilson Of
Quincy, Ill.