The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-07
ROCKEFELLER JOINS
REPEAL MOVEMENT;
HAS LONG BEEN DRY
Oil Magnate's Change Of Opin-
ion is Indicated in Letter
to Butler

New York, June 7.-jF)-Jubilatio
reigned in the wet camp Tuesday, fol
John d. Rockefeller, Jr., a life-lonf
dry, has decided the 18th amend
ment ought to be repealed.
The oil magrate's change of opin.
ion, disclosed in letter to DR.
Nicholas Murray Butler, brought ex.
pressions of amazement and sharp
disagreement from supporters of the
prohibition amendment, which Rock
|ehller and his father helped make
the law of the land.
In expressing hope. both major par
ties would adopt repeal planks and
remove the question from partisan
strife. Rockefeller made it plain he
had not altered his views on tenn
perance.
He said he had been a teetotaler all
his life. Neither my father nor his
father ever tasted a drop of in
toxicating liquor, nor have l." he said.
He said he and his father had con-
tributed S350,000 to the Anti-Saloon
League to support prohibition legis-
laticn.
Slowly and reluctantly" he said,
he had come to believe that the
had not been supported
by public opinion sufficiently to has
ten the day when the value to So
ciety of men with minds and bodies
free from the undermining effects of
alcohol would be generally realized
Finds Drinking Increased
Rather, he declared, he found that
drinking generally has increased;
the speakeasy has replaced the sa-
loon, not only unit for unit, but prob
ably tWo-fold if not three fold; that
A vast army Of law breakers has been
recruited and financed on colos-
sal scale; that many of our best citi-
zens, piqued at what they regarded
Is an infringement of their private
rights, have openly and unabashed
iisregarded the 18th amendment:
hat as an inevitable result respect
or all law has been greatly lessened;
hat crime has increased to an UNI
,recedented degree
Rockefeller told DR.. Butler, presi-
lent of Columbia university and
prominent Republican foe of the
that he was in complete
with resolution DR..
Butler will seek to have the Repub.
lean national convention incorporate
n its platform. The resolution calls
or repeal by submission to state con-
'entions. pledging the party to fight
he saloon and urging the amend
mont Ia
The oil magnate said sufficient
ime ought to be given before repeal
'ecame effective to permit the states
o insure control of the liquor traf-
ic. He declared, however, he did not
aver coupling repeal with an alter
late measure offered as a substitute
because it would be difficult for peo-
lie to agree and unlikely that any
ne method will fit the entire ma
ion"
Mrs. Boole Is Caustic
Mrs. Ella A. Boole, president of the
Y. C. T. u. commenting on the let
er. asked will people who have re-
used to obey the prohibition law
gree to obey the restrictions that
must of necessity be part of any
ther law?"
Bishop James Cannon, Jr, of the
Iethodist Episcopal church, south,
aid the amendment had been sue
essful and that certainly we do not
ropose to exchange what we have
ar better than the legalized traffic
nd saloon of the old days-for
omething that is unformulated and
DR.. D. LEIGH Colvin, chairman of
he prohibition national committee.
eclaring Rockefeller made wild
tatements," said government figures
how 1.-The source of liquor supply is
OF over IS per cent what it was be-
ore" and that crime has decreased.
DR.. Butler, on the other hand, hail
d Rockefeller's support and said it
ould have "a very great influence
l the public opinion of the coun-
" Mrs. Charles H. Sabin, chair
ian of the Women's Organization
" National Prohibition Reform.
raised the oil man for his courage