Evening star., 1932-06-07
|WETS HAIL STAND
of ROCKEFELLER,JR.
Lifelong Dry Comes Out for
Prohibition Repeal, Cit
ing Evils.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
coupling repeal with An alternate meas
ure offered as substitute, because 1t
! would be difficult for people to agree
and unlikely that any one method will
fit the entire Nation"
Mrs. Ella A. Boole. president Of the
w. c. T. u. commenting on the letter,
asked: will people who have refused
obey the restrictions that must Of neces-
sity be a part of any other law?"
Bishop James Cannon, jr., Of the
, Methodist Episcopal Church South said
the amendment had been successful and
that certainly we do not propose to
exchange what we have-far better than
the legalized traffic and saloon Of the
old days-for something that Is un-
formulated and untried."
DR.. D. Leigh Colvin, chairman OF the
Prohibition National Committee. de-
claring Rockefeller made wild state
ments." said Government figures show
that "the source Of liquor supply Is not
over IS per cent what 1t was before"
and that crime has decreased.
Dr. Butler, on the other hand, hailed
Mr.. Rockefeller's support and said 1t
would have "a very great influence in
the public opinion of the country" and
Mrs Charles H. Sabn. chairman Of the
Women's Organization for National Pro-
hibition Reform, praised the oil man for
his courage"
Broke With League In 1925.
Mr.. Rockefeller was credited with
quiet, but effective part In the move.
ment which eliminated in adoption OF
the prohibition amendment. Though he
was never a spectacular propagandist
for prohibition, the dry forces, and par
ticularly the Anti-Saloon League, re-
garded him as one Of their greatest
pillars.
There appears to be no record Of any
contributions by him to the Anti-Saloon
League after 1925 1t was at about that
time that he broke with the organiza-
tion as result Of Irregularities exposed
In the prosecution and conviction Of
William H. Anderson, New York State
superintendent
Anderson served q prison term In
1924 for third-degree forgery, and at
that time Mr.. Rockefeller demanded
full inquiry into the affairs OF the
league, and in this connection he came
to the support of Raymond D. Fosdick.
who was in controversy with Anderson.
He challenged Anderson's charge that
he was the victim of wet conspir-
acy," saying:
If Mr.. Fosdick is guilty Of participa-
ton In any wet conspiracy am guilty.
too, for he has represented me in this
matter for two years, and I have fully
approved Of his every action and he has
had and still retains my complete con-
fldence"
DR.. Dinwiddie Disagrees.
Other comment on Rockefeller's STATE
ment follows:
DR.. Edwin c. Dinwiddie. executive
secretary of the National Prohibition
Board of Strategy:
Il don't agree with him. of course.
but he has right to his opinion. The
reversal was not unanticipated. There
has been wrong impression about
both the Rockefellers' support OF the
dry cauSe-neither has given so much
to 1t as was supposed in recent years
I'm sorry. but I'm not surprised.
Il think the idea of remedying evils
that have come not because Of but at
the same time as prohibition Is wrong.
Certain things have developed which
nobody could anticipate-hut the REM
edy Is not repeal of the law. Red
blooded Americans must address them
selves to remedy for the difficulty
merely for the eighteenth amendment,
but for law
Henry II. Curran. president Of the
Association Against the Prohibition
Amendment-The interest of the Rocke-
fellers in helping mankind led them to
support the attempt to establish ma
tional prohibition. They have watched
the growing evils from this legislative
mistake for 10 years and now they
condemn national prohibition because
1t hurts mankind instead Of helping
The Rockefellers join the great COM
pany Of thoughtful American men and
women who realize that the safety OF
our country requires that We correct
this hideous mistake without any more
delay
Sheppard's Position Unchanged.
Senator Sheppard. Democrat, Of
Texas-It makes no change in my DO
sition. The only prohibition plank is
one enforcing all laws, just like we had
in 1928.
Senator Robinson, Republican, Of
Indiana-My first comment is that
am opposed to it. MY own opinion is
that the Republican platform ought to
contain a Straightforward declaration
for observance Of the Constitution and
law enforcement
Senator Bulkley, Democrat, Of Ohio
I am glad to see one more convert
have been hoping all along that both
parties would have a repeal plank.
Representative La Guardia. Republi-
can Of New YOrk-In time even
Rockefeller can see a mistake.
Senator Bingham. Republican Of
Connecticut-Obviously the costly ex-
i'm ant Ho bod hy,t tk1o
In America has failed in the opinion
Of those who have invested huge sums
OF money in an attempt to regulate
forcibly the personal habits of a proud
and independent people.
James A. Farley. manager Of Gov
ROosevelt's preconvention campaign
1t will go long way toward removing
doubt from the minds of those who
had not formed opinions.
DR.. Homer w. Tope, Philadelphia