Evening star., 1932-11-28
Summers Calls Judiciary
Committee to Decide on
Course of Action.
DRYS TO PRESENT UNITED
FRONT IN HOUSE BATTLE
Wet Leaders Debate Submission TO
State Legislatures or
Conventions.
BY the Associated Press.

Ihe Democratic leadership in the
House Of Representatives went doeged-
ly ahead today with its plans for a
vote on prohibition repeal next Mon
day, but difficulties were in the offing.
After comforting with Speaker Garner,
Chairman Summers called the Judiciary
Committee to meet Friday to discuss
the resolution proposed by the
Speaker.
Designed to conform to the Demo-
cratic platform. it would amend the
Constitution to read:
"The eighteenth article of amend
ment is hereby repealed.
This article shall be imperative
unless it shall have been ratified as
an amendment to the Constitution
by conventions in three-f -fourths of
the several States within seven years
from the date Of its submission to
the States by the Congress"
Awaits Group Action.
Summers. a fellow Texan Of Garner.
told reporters:
Il do not consent to offer this reso-
luton until the House Judiciary Com
mittee has acted"
This Is matter which Is within the
jurisdiction OF my committee" he con-
tinued. Il would not offer this resolu-
ton unless authorized by my committee
to do so."
Soon after Summers had snoken
Speaker Garner told newspaper men he
was mot welded" to the language of
the repeal resolution he had submitted
to Summers.
Summers said he assumed II the Judi
ciary Committee did not report the reso-
luton favorably for action some one
OF the Democratic leadership, possibly
Representative Rainey (the Democratic
noor leaders, win ofier 1t from the
floor"
Meanwhile It became known that q
cipal Organizations opposing any change
IN prohibition Will be held here We'd
nesday TO map . unified fight esainSt
modification OF repeal.
Dry Leaders Map Action.
One informal session Of some leaders
was held recently. II included the
Anu-Saloon League, the Association Of
Catholics Favoring Prohibition, the
Woman's Christian temperance Union.
the Methodist Board Of Temperance'
Prohibition and Public Morals and the
International Reform Federation.
The strategy Of prohibition propo-
nents within the next few months was
discussed informally and the conclu-
slons VIII be laid before Wednesdays
session.
While no information on the meeting
was made public, the general attitude
taken was that those favoring prohib.-
tion must rely mainly on the States to
malt ratifcation of any proposed repeal
or modification,
The attitude taken toward a beer bill
was that. should Congress pass such
legislation to permit a return of legal
lied beer, a reaction against it within
two years would cause Congress TO re-
verse its own action.
Leaders OF dry organizations believe
their best strategy Is to rely on State
legislatures to block any upset over
prohibition.
Assails Wet Democrats.
DR.. Clarence True Wilson, general
secretary of the Methodist board. said:
II Congress is SO foolish in a hys-
terla to pass resolution repeating or
modifying the eighteenth amendment,
we would expect to defeat it not in l3
States (the necessary number to block
constitutional changes)), but in far
more than half the States in the Union.
1t is just possible that If Congress had
met Immediately after the Democratic
convention, or perhaps as late as q
day after election, they might have
passed a beer bill which would have
made drinking of beer compulsory. II
were going to preach sermon on
these newly elected Democrats, it would
be on the text Man shall not live by
beer alone"
The general program which will be
presented at Wednesdays session will
comprise five points. They include
teaching in the public schools of the
effects of alcoholic liquors. narcotics
and opiates; Sunday school instruction
In the moral effects Of drinking;
campaign Of total abStinance signing;
teaching Of responsibility Of law en-
forcement in community, county and
States; unihcation of temperance
forces.
Favors Legislatures.
Representative Summers said he did
not favor submitting the repeal reso-
luton to conventions but instead to
Legislatures. He noted, however, that
the Democratic platform called for
ratification by conventions.
Summers also said he favored action
on repeal before consideration OF beer
legislation. He added he would be glad
to put the proposition of alcoholic con-
tent of beer to the Judiciary Committee,
if requested to do SO by the Ways and
Means Committee.
There is no necessity, so far as
can see, for hearings on the repeal
resolution" Summers said. Certainly
not for formal hearings. / think we
have heard enough on the question.
see no reason why the Judiciary Com
lrnn4in,,na - rarrr d cS.i..----. q