Evening star., 1933-02-06
BEER REBELLION
CHARGED BY DRYS
Methodist Board Attacks
"LaWIess Lawmakers"
Who Support Bill.
BY the Associated Press.


Members of Congress who have voted
for the beer bill were described as "a
band Of lawless lawmakers, in open re-
bellion against the Constitution" in a
statement given out today by the
Board of Temperance and Social Serv-
ice of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South.
The statement was directed at the
H9uee, which passed the Collier-B Blaine
bill. and the two Senate committees
which approved it. 1t was signed by
Bishop James Cannon. jr, as chair
man Of the board, and Dr. Eugene l..
Crawford, secretary.
Cut in Funds Attacked.
Included In the statement also was
criticism of the House for cutting
the appropriation for prohibition en-
forcement.
The statement said:
From a careful survey conducted
by our beard, 1t now seems evident that
the eighteenth amendment will not be
repealed at an early date, and prob
ably not at all, as the people are be-
coming thoroughly aroused as to the
dire social results of such action.
But, apparently because OF a realiza-
tion of the remoteness of such repeal.
the country now faces a situation un-
precedented in its history-namely, a
wet rebellion in the Congress of the
United States against the Constitution.
from which constitutional Congress de-
rives its very existence. The law makers
Of the highest legislative body in the
land In these perilous times of unrest,
discomfort, hold-ups, robberieS and
murders, have become themselves open
law breakers, simply to satisfy the
clamor of certain elements for actually
intoxicating and, therefore, unconsti-
tutional beer, and to secure a compare
lively small amount of revenue at the
expense of the wives and children of
working men.
Charge Violation of Oath.
by adopting the Collier beer bill in
the face of indisputable expert testi-
mony that 1t attempts to legalize in
toXicating beer, congressman violated
their oaths of Office to support and up
hold the Constitution of the United
States, which explicitly forbids traffic
In intoxicating liquor
Moreover, in the face of statements
from Attorney General Mitchell and
Commissioner Woodcock, the House of
Representatives reduced this already
shamefully inadequate prohibition en-
forcement appropriation and so re-
stricted its use as to make 1t exceed
ingly difficult to secure convictions of
violators of the prohibition law, thus
emphasizing the open lawless repudia-
tton of the Constitution by the added
policy of notification.
And now, following the lawless lead
OF the House, the Judiciary and Finance
Committees of the Senate have both
favorably reported the unconstitutional
Collier Blaine beer bill, after reshaping
its provisions under the leadership OF
the fanatical wet lame duck Senator
Blaine OF Wisconsin, the preprohibition
beer State of the country.
Beer Called Intoxicating.
"As now drafted, the bill purposely
dodges the question of permissible
alcoholic content of legaliZed beer. but
practically prohibits the Government
from prosecuting the trafhckers in beer
OF sos per cent, or less, by weight,
practically per cent by volume, which
beer is intoxicating by testimony of
experts court decisions and personal |
observations and experience. The special |
evident purpose, evaltedlt declared by
some Of its advocates, is to make it
practically impossible to secure con-
victions of trafickers in their admit
tedly intoxicating beer and to prevent
the question from coming before the
Supreme Court of the violation Of the
Constitution by this manufacturer and
sale Of such beer.
1T is a cowardly subterfuge unworthy
OF the highest legislative body Of the
country.
In short, the House of Representa-
tives and the Judiciary and Finance
Committees of the Senate have gone on
record officially as a band of lawless
lawmakers in open rebellion against
the Constitution. In SO doing, they
have openly allied themselves with the
du Points, the Sabins, Al Smiths, Mr.
Rcckefeller'S so-called best citizens
the froth' at the top, and with the
lowest elements of the underworld and
the bootleggers-'dregs' at the bottom
OF society; all of whom openly nullify
the Constitution.
Denounce "Wet Rebellion"
Representing, as we believe, this
great mass CT law abiding citizens of
our country, we denounce this wet re-
bellion' of these lawless lawmakers
against the Constitution and the order
ly processes for amending the same, as
an example of lawlessness in high
places, which is not only disgrace
to our country, but which will stimulate
the spirit Of lawlessness already exist
ing among certain classes of citizens.
I'VE believe this attempted nullifi-
cation cf the Constitution will be con-
demned by the country at large, ex-
cept in those centers where shameless,
unblushing graft, corruption and law
,lessness dominate the political life.
I'm the name of the constituency
which we represent, we appeal to the
Senate not to pass the Collier-Blaine
beer bill and thus to defeat the purpose
of the wet rebellion against the Con-
stitution of the United States
I'VE urge all opponents of this beer
bill to notify promptly their Senators
Of their opposition to this BILL