The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-06-07
Teetotaller John D.
 Rockefeller .Flops
tcontinued from Page 1)

I to conditions unspeakabIy .worse''
 than they were before prohibition. Repeal may not by itself end all
 these evils but 1t is prerequisite to the attainment of that goal" l If the eighteenth amendment Is
 repealed, sufficient time ought to
 be given before repeal became ef-
 fective to permit the states by leg
 islative action," to set up such 1 safeguards and methods of control
 as will insure promotion of tenn perance.
 Repeal should be submitted with
 out alternative suggestions for cons trol methods because 1t will be So
 difficult for our people as whole
 to agree in advance on what the
 substitute should be and so unllke-
 ly that any one method will fit the
 entire nation."
 F. Rockefeller preceded his start
 ling attack on the prohibition amendment with an explanation of
 the attitude of his famous father
 and himself, and an outline of the
 beliefs of his mother and grand
 mother which read:
 My mother and her mother
 were among the dauntless women of their day who. hating the hor- | TOTS of drunkenness, were often found with bands of women of like mind, praying on their knees in the | saloons in their ardent desire to save men from the evils that so commonly sprang from these sources of iniquity."
 Dry leaders generally held to the view that Rockefeller's desertion of their cause would not prevent their ultimate victory. Some re- garded his action as that of just another prohibitionist who chang ed his mind" Others however, by their denial of charges of failure made by Rockefeller, indicated they regarded loss of his support as serious.
 Wet leaders quoted here and all over the country, indicated Rocke- feller's statement would speed up or encourage these moves: 2 Dr Buffers own repeal plank" which Butler says he will fight for on the floor of the National Re- publican Convention. 1t guarantees states rights and calls for submis- sion of 6 repeal amendment to the states to be determined by conven- tions.
 Adoption by both major parties of q re-submission plank, thus re- moving prohibition as a presiden- tial campaign issue as Rockefeller earnestly hopes" This was urged weeks ago by pr Butler in public statement here.
 Possible decision by Alfred E. Smith, heretofore satisfied with "home rule" plank urged by John J.. Raskob, to demand Straight repeal plank" in the democratic convention, thus precipitatinY fight there. .
 The repeal plan proposed by Dr Butler which brought approval by Rockefeller would pledge the re- publican party to re-submission, and also would pledge the party. if repeal of the amendment is voted. to campaign for legislation by the states to control the liquor traffic.
 The Butler plank reads, in part, as follows:
 That the several states may be enabled. to deal promptly. ef- fectively and constructively with the problems of the liquor traffic. .. we ask that the congress submit proposal to repeal the 18th amendment, which proposal shall be submitted for ratification by con ventions of the people of the sev- eral states in accordance with the provisions of article V of the con- stitution of the United States,
 Should the 18th amendment be repealed. the republican party 1NIadOna fta fnAIInnnA n a hnt-tt q to secure the adoption of such measures for the control of the li- quor traffic by the several states as will promote temperance, effective ly abolish the saloon, whether open or concealed, and bring the liquor traffic itself, when not prohibited. under complete public supervision and control"
 Rockefeller's dramatic bolt re- called the fact that since conviction of William H. Anderson, New York state superintendent of the Anti Saloon League, in 1925. no Rocke- feller contributions to the prohibit ton cause are known to have been recorded. His known contributions have totalled about $500,0OO. Testimony of the late Wayne F. Wheeler. head of the Anti-Saloon League, before a senate committee in 1927 revealed that between 1917 and 1925. Rockefeller had contri- buted nearly $175.000 to the New York state branch of the associa- ton alone.
 In 1924 and early 1925, Ander- [ sons service to the Anti-SaloOn ! League was exposed as filled with | Irregularities and the one-time dry | leader served prison term. At that | time, Rockefeller demanded a full and extensive inquiry into the af- fairs of the league.
 Raymond E. Foadick, who at that | time represented the Rockefeller philanthrophies. engaged in a con- troversy with Anderson over the | matter. Rockefeller backed Fosdick with the declaration. 1T have fully | approved his (Fosdick's) every &C., ton and he has had and still re- tains my complete confidence
 Rockefeller still maintained his beliefs in prohibition. however, de- spite his break with the New York league. In regard to the prohibition question, he said. Character im- plies obedience to law. irrespective of whether one likes the law. be- !ieves in 1t or is opposed to it."
 In conformity with this view. Rockefeller declared iA his letter |