Evening star., 1932-04-19
WOMEN "SCORCH"
FOIBLES OF VETS IN TOASTS
Dry Delegates Caricature
Members of Congress
and Others.
Mrs. Edison and Robinson
Defend Results of
Prohibition.

The folbles OF the vets were put on
the toast rack" and thoroughly
scorched at a mid-morning breakfast
today of delegates to the three-day
meeting of the Women's National Com
nittee for Law Enforcement, being held
at the Washington Auditorium.
To the rythn and paraphrased words
of nursery rhymes, the dry women car
featured what were seen as present-day
tendencies among the forces opposed to
prohibition.
Members of Congress were the par
ticular objects of the drys humor. al
though no names were mentioned
throughout the performance. The meal
was entitled Valley Forge Breakfast"
and was said to Commemorate the
turning point of the struggle for our
Nation" The program was concluded
with singing of the Battle Hymn Of
the Republic"
Late yesterday afternoon the women
drys heard Bishop James Cannon, jr.,
Southern Methodist prohibitionist, deny
that he had supported any resubmis-
sion proposal in q speech last week at
Richmond, Va.
Denies Press Reports.
He was introduced by Mrs. Henry w.
Peabody head Of the Woman's Law En-
forcement Committee, who called on
him to explain statements in the press
that he had expressed himself in favor
OF former Gov. Harry Byrds plan for
prohibition resubmission
/ Bishop Cannon quoted at length from
his Richmond speech and said:
Certainly these quotations show that
am positively opposed to the resub-
mission Of the prohibition amendment
until the people have indicated clearly
in congressional and senatorial elections
that the people themselves, not the wet
press, not the associations opposed to
prohibition, not even the wet women,
want the amendment resubmitted.
In my Richmond speech I positive
ly declared that dry leaders have never
OBJECTED and do not object now to ac-
ton by the people in the manner pre-
scribed by the Constitution. They are
ready to fight the issue out in the
proper arena in the election of Con-
gressmen, Senators and members of
State Legislatures just as has been done
IN the past, and furthermore these
quotations clearly show that went the
full limit and declared that should both
conventions adopt planks advocating
reSubmlssion or repeal of the prohi-
bition amendment and the nominees
should agree to run on such wet planks,
the dry people would be obliged to de-
eide whether they would call a con-
vention to determine what procedure
would best promote the future of pro-
hibition.''
Discusses Byrd Plan.
Discussing Gov. Byrd's plan, the
bishop quoted again his Richmond ad-
dress to show that he had agreed with
Byrd's opposition to any illegal refer
endum or to a home rule plan.
Furthermore" he said, II agree with
the basal elements of his proposed con-
stitutional amendment-namely, that
the Congress, whenever two-thirds of
both Houses deem it necessary, shall
propose any amendment or the repeal
OF the eighteenth amendment, pro-
vided such amendment must be voted
upon and adopted by a majority Of the
electors of three-fourths of the States
before becoming part of the Consti-
tuition"
He added that he said he would pre-
fer to have the ratification made by
State Legislatures or by a majority vote
OF the people rather than in conven-
tions, which could be manipulated or
controlled. His choice was the State
legislature method.
At the session last night Senator Ar
SAiNA -. 4tODI1SOll Ol 4It0ldtld ana MIS-,
Thomas A. Edison, widow of the famous
inventor, were the principal speakers.
Describing present economic condi-
tlons in England and Germany, where
liquor is sold, Senator Robinson told the
women that bad as conditions are,
they would become infinitely worse If
the saloon came back to this country"
| He charged that -prohibitionists,
1or all their attacks on the dry law
were without a substitute for the
| eighteenth amendment and without a
solution for dealing with the problem of
| liquor return.
After 1873 years Of bitter experience, 4"
the Senator sid. "the American people
arose in their might and outlaWed the
| Saloon-neyer TO return again. The
vets suggest that the Government take
over the liquor business. If the United
States Government goes into the liquor
| business, you must hang out the Ameri-
can flag in front of every groggery."
Mrs. Edison, VINO came here from her
| Florida home to attend the convention,
said
''It is not the prohibition law that
| is running our country, but it is the
lack of reverence and respect for all
law-lack of the sense of responsibility
| to give due respect to the men whom
we have placed in the highest positions
| filled by man.
Instead Of constant harmful criti-
cism, We should be grateful to honor
| those we put in high office, and have
faith in them. 1t is for us to find the
man, such as our President, whom we
can honor"
Mrs. Edison charged that people in
| the higher social strata are living today
| without thinking. Always seeking a
good time, with no responsibilities
| they want no laws that they must
obey-only laws in cases where they
are disconnected, she declared
on every side Of US. In everything,
/ from the highest to the lowest. II we
lock about us we blush for the cor
.-,~@s1,. - ,a,r Ara