Evening star., 1932-10-30
LABOR WILL SEEK
STATE BEER LAWS
Opens Drive in Preparation
for Action Expected in
Congress.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
Matthew Woll, chairman of Labor's
National Committee for modification Of
the volstead act, yesterday announced
a drive to change prohibitory State
laws to permit the sale Of beer inlme-
diately, if and when Congress modif1es
the Volstead law.
Woll's organization operates under
instructions of the executive council Of
the American Federation of Labor
1--WE are so confident of the impend-
ing success of our campaign (for modi-
fication)." said Vol, that we have
set in motion a plan to meet the situ-
alton in States.
I'VE are consulting with attorneys
and with friendly and cooperating or
ganizations for the purpose Of imme-
diately offering to our members in the
various States drafts of proposed legis-
legislation will have the support OF
every organization working for modifl-
cation of the Volstead act
Legal Status Analyzed.
Pending draft of such bills, Woll dis
tributed to all members OF his COM
mittee an analysis of the legal situation
in regard to beer in each State. Dur
ing the coming week report ana
lying the situation expected to obtain
in the coming short session of the old
Congress and in the first session OF the
new, will be issued.
The situation of the 48 States in re-
gard to prohibition was analyzed by
Woll as follows:
Six-Maryland, New York. Massachu-
sets, Wisconsin, Montana and Nevada
have no restriction on liquor production
and could take immediate advantage OF
any Volstead law change.
Seven others, Connecticut, Louisiana,
New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Missouri,
Minnesota and California. already pro-
vided by law for accepting the deflni-
ton of Intoxicating beverage whicn
may be adopted by Congress. The ST.
preme Court Of Missouri held this pro-
vision would constitute unwarranted
delegation of legislative power to Con-
gress, so, Woll said. from the legal
standpoint there is some doubt about
the matter Otherwise. he said the
States already have their houses in
order for the beer modification Of the
Volstead act"
Referenda to Be Held.
He said referenda on repeal of State
enforcement acts will be held in No
vember in California, New Jersey, Ore
gon, Washington, Louisiana and Michi-
gan. Illinois in the past voted by
referendum to repeal its dry law, but
the ensuing repeal action by the Legis-
lature was vetoed by the Governor. He
listed 10 States. as having constitutional
prohibition: Arizona, Arkansas, Colo
RADIO, Florida, Idaho, Kansas. Kentucky
Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and
Wyoming. OF these, wyoming will have
November referendum on repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment, while Ari-
zcna, Colorado, Michigan. North Da-
kota, Ohio and Oregon, Woll said, have
moves under way either for repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment or fol
change in their own State constitu-
tional provisions.
Seventeen States, he said, are dry by
statute, permitting change by action
of their Legislatures: Alabama, Della
ware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa
Mississippi. New Hampshire, New Jer-
sey, North Carolina, South Carolina
Rhode Island. Tennessee, Texas, Ver-
mont, Virginia and Washington. OF
these, however, Alabama. Kentucky
Mississippi and Virginia have no ses-
sion of the Legislature next year.