Evening star., 1932-06-30
SHEPPARD READY
TO VOTE ON REPEAL
Willing to Submit Proposal
to States, but viii Fight
Change.
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page)
jority required to submit an amend
ment to the Constitution"
Rainey voted last March in favor
of submitting to the people State
control amendment.
Representative Black, Democrat, Of
New York already has introduced a
resolution to repeal the eighteenth
amendment in accordance with the ac-
ton of the Democratic convention.
Representative La Guardia, Republi-
can, of New York, also started work to
bring about a coalition Of Republican
and Democratic vets in the House, de-
claring both parties are at last in ac-
cord that prohibition has been failure
and that it is not enforceable. He said
neither party has seen fit to act alone,
but that together they could modify
prohibition enforcement.
Gives Out Statement.
Sheppard made his announcement by
handing newSpapermen typewriter
statement without further comment. 1t
said he would oppose modification OF
the Volstead act as long as the eight
eenth amendment remains. Sheppard
recently had stated he would support
| Speaker Garner for the presidency de-
| spite the latters action in advocating
repeal.
His statement follows:
at shall vote for the submission OF
| the question Of repeal unless the reler-
endum in the Democratic party prim-
ary in July results unfavorably to sub
mission. Another qualification, so FAR
as nv vote is concerned, Is that the
! tendency of the amendment involving
! the question of repeal must be limited
| to q definite number Of years, as was
the case with the eighteenth amend
ment.
"If the question Of repeal is sub
nnitted to the States, I shall oppose
repeal when my State takes up the
matter of determining its attitude.
while 1 shall vote to submit, I am
| opposed to repeal.
IT shall oppose any increase in the
alcoholic content of beverage liquors
banned by the Volstead act while the
| eighteenth amendment Is in operation,
because 1 regard such measure as
either a direct violation Of the Consti-
tuition or destruction Of enforcement.
In either case, respect for my oath to
support the Constitution impels me to
take this position"
Norris Thinks Change Necessary.
Senator Norris, Republican, Nebraska,
| long a prohibitionist said yesterday he
believes the time may have come when
the VolStead act should be modified to
! try new experiment in the control Of
liquor.
Commenting on the Democratic re-
peal plank, Norris confessed he was
terribly disappointed" at the way the
prohibition laws have worked out.
I'm not sure but what he have tried
it long enough to be sure 1t won't be
satisfactory" he said. But I don't
want to leave it wide open"
"It may be that modification of the
Volstead act will be a necessary ex-
pertinent that we will have to try.
which I think we can do under the
Constitution.
IF we are going to try another ex-
pertinent we could give a different def
milton to intoxicating liquor by in
creasing the alcoholic content. That
will enable Congress to tax any bever-
age with an alcoholic content that
comes below that definition.
Enforcement Seems Failure.
ct have been thinking seriously of
| the problem for six months. but no
matter how much I have believed in
prohibition, I can't close my eyes to
| the fact that the country seems to be
the other way and that enforcement
seems to be a failure"
Bingham, long an advocate of repeal
and modification, was elated by the
action Of the Democratic convention.
"As soon as the Democrats come
back" he said, IT shall move to take
| the beer bill from the calendar and
consider it.
''It is very good bill, carefully con-
| sidered by the committee. providing
| for per cent beer, which meets both
| party platforms because it will not re-
/ quire return of the saloon"
| Bingham estimated that under the
| old beer tax of Sc barrel that still
| Is on the statute books, his bill would
| raise $375, ZOO, 900 of revenue annually.
He expressed high hopes for ap-
| proval of his bill at this session, pro-
| Vided the Democrats lived up to their
campaign platform.
VIII Revive Repeal Motion.
Bingham announced also that he
would ask to take from the table his
resolution calling for repeal of the
| eighteenth amendment.
''If Morris Sheppard Is willing to
vote for resubmission. Bingham said,
IT might not have to walt until they
get back"
Senator Bingham declared the big
gest opposition to modification OF the
Volstead act heretofore has developed
on the Democratic side of the Senate.
Now" he said, I'VE can give the Demo-
Gratis a chance to show what they
! meant by the prohibition repeal plank.
| Congress should remain in session until
| the Volstead act is modified"
Democratic opponents of prohibition
were delighted with the platform adopt
| ed, but the drys were reluctant TO
comment.
Senator Copeland Democrat, OF New
York, said il was q good platform,
courageous, manly, straightforward and
uneQuivocal."
Senator Coolidge Democrat, Of Mass
achusetts, said he would "be very glad
~ an AarlvA nrf1oFt1initv IN vote fnr