Evening star., 1933-09-20
WATSON WILL AID
BEVERAGE DEALERS
in LIQUOR CONTROL
Former Republican Leader in
Senate Calls for Regu-
lated Traffic.
WHISKY AND WINE SALES
BY DRUG STORES SOUGHT
Problem of Return of Saloon, High
Taxes and Illicit Dispensers
Considered by Association.

Former Senator James E. Watson OF
Indiana. Republican leader in the last
Senate and lCng known as dry. today
threw his support to movement by
the Nations beverage dealers to Or
ganize for ethical" sale of legal liquor
after repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment.
Leaders of the retail beverage in
dustry convened here this afternoon at
a luncheon in the Willard Hotel to dis
cuss problems of "self-protection," with
former Senator Watson as one OF the
leaders in the general discussion. The
luncheon was sponsored by the Ma
tional Association of Retail Beverage
Dealers, formed in anticipation Of re-
peal.
Watson said he was indorsing the or
ganization because went through the
whole prohibition business and / don't
want to see the country 60 through 1t
again.
Uniformity Urged.
1--WE need some Nationwide agency
to bring about uniformity in regulating
and controlling traffic. There must be
places where liquor is sold and they
must be regulated. It is a wholesome
and good movement"
Among major problems confronting
the beverage dealers Is what to do about
the saloon. the return of which in its
old guise is vigorously fought even by
many opponents of prohibition. Means
for protecting dispensers of legal liquor
against sale of illicit liquor also will
be considered.
Other speakers at the conference to-
day were to include Frank Clark, for
mer Representative in Congress from
Florida. who is president of the Bev-
erage Dealers Association: S. Wallace
Dempsey, former Representative from
New York. who is general counsel for
the association. and Representative Brit
ten of Illinois.
Headquarters Established.
The organization has established
headquarters in the National Press
Building here. State groups already
have been organized in Illinois, Iowa,
Indiana. Ohio and several other States.
A membership Of nearly 100000 bev-
erage dealers is expected.
1T is realized said Clark today,
that the beverage business after the
repeal of prohibition will face many
the conduct of the business will depend
entirely whether it is to survive or
perish The purpose of the association
Is to promote through organization the
development. the ethics. the reputation
and the financial success of the bev-
erage business"
Clark said after repeal organization
was the only way to protect beverage
dealers from unjust Federal and State
legislation, burdensome taxation and un-
scrupulous and unlawful competition.
Both political parties in their last
national platforms declared against the
old-time saloon" he said, "and there
fore it must be assumed that such
declarations expressed the manifest In
tention of the American people"
Platform Recommended.
On this basis the organization has
adopted a platform which includes
these recommendations:
Permission for the sale Of whisky or
wine in bottles by all drug stores the
beverage not to be consumed on the
premises.
Permission for hotels. with reasonable
restrictions, to dispense liquor to their
guests.
Beverage vendors, in such places as
may be prescribed by proper legisla-
tive authority, should be permitted to
sell beer, ale, porter or other malt
or vinous liquors either by the bottle or
on draft to be consumed on the
premises.
That while wide divergence Of opin-
ion regarding the sale Of liquor will lead
to different State laws. this association
feels free to urge that the limitations
upon such sale should not be so severe,
nor the taxes SO high. as to drive the
liquor dealer out of business and thus
promote the illegal selling of such
liquor; that in the liberal States, in
order to conform to an overwhelming
public sentiment. there doubtless will be
and should be liberty to dispense such
liquor for consumption on the prem
ises."
State laws should be passed to pro-
hibit sale to persons under 81 years OF
age, or on election days, or to a per-
son intoxicated or in the habit of be-
coming intoxicated.
Neither brewery or diStillery should
be permitted to own, operate or finance
liquor dispensing place.
The association also urged low Fed
eral, State and municipal taxes on
liquors to prevent bootlegging.