Evening star., 1933-01-24
LEAGUE DEN0UNCES.
LOCAL BEER BILL
,Anti.SaIoon Group Defends
Prohibition-WiIson Elected
Path Time.

Denouncing the Black bill to legalize
beer In the National Capital as "vi-
cious." the Anti-Saloon League of the
District of Columbia. in annual meet
ing last night at Luther Place Memorial
Church, adopted 4 series of resolutions
vigorously defending prohibition as a
general policy commenting the ap-
pointment Of Maj. Ernest w. Brown as
superintendent Of police, and warned
that II the Black bill passed 1t would
mean return Of the saloon to the Ma
tional Capital
Dr. Andrew Wilson was elected presi-
dent CT the league for the twenty
fourth time. and other officers and
trustees were elected for the ensuing
year.
Several speakers, including Dr. F.
Scott Mcbride, general superintendent
of the Anti saloon League of America .
Joseph D. Kelly. attorney of this city,
Or. w. L. Darby. secretary of the
Washington Federation Of Churches.
and others addressed the meeting to
support prohibition and warn of the
dangers which 1t now faces from pend.
ing legislation.
Adoption Unanimous.
The resoluticnS, presented by DR.. H.
W. Burgan, pastor OF Hamline Method.
ist Episcopal Church, chairman of the
Resolutions Committee, were unani-
mously adopted. They were vigorous
in attacking the Black bill. The reso-
lutions will be laid before Congress.
Most positively do we denounce the
Black beer bill in the House proposing
the repeal Of the Sheppard law and the
legaliAng Of Intoxicating beer in the
District Of Columbia" said the resolu-
ticns. Referring TO both the Black bill
IN the House and the similar pending
Iydings bill In the Senate. the resolu-
tions continued: Each means the re-
turn of the saloon to Washington. If
enacted Either bill is vicious"
Before the last presidential election
there was one thing. and one thing
only, upon which vets and drys agreed. !"
said the resolutions. and that was that
the. old saloon, with all its attendant
evils. must not return. Both political
parties wrote into their national plat
forms strong opposition to the beer
saloon Of e-prohibition days. This
proposed law for the District of Co.
iumbia does violence to all these pro-
nouncements. The bill permits saloons
anywhere in the city no section is pro
tected, the number in any one locality
Is not restricted they may be placed
next to churches and schools. they can
keep open all day Sunday, and many
other safeguards against the evils CT
the saloons in the former days are alb
sent In this bill. We strongly urge the
people OF Washington to protest Wig
orously against this measure"
Stand BY Prohibition.
The resolutions restated belief in the
policy OF national prohibition as estab-
llshed by the eighteenth amendment,
and rejoiced in its success "under
extremely adverse conditions"
Referring to the powerful enemies Of
sooriety and prohibition" the league
challenged every good citizen to
faithfully observe the laws. and to as
sist others in observing the laws
A picture OF The Bucket of Blood.
'Hell's Bottom and hundreds of SINH
lar places In the old days" said the
resolutions. "contrasted with the clean
streets, safe ways. night or day. for
women. scarcity Of any drunkenness
seen In our streets causes us to plead
for prohibition and fair mind toward
the good reults that are evident to
those who know the long history of
the District under liquor shops, and
the decency we have now under pro-
hibition. We therefore call upon the
constituted authorities to give their best
Efforts at the enforcement Of the law.
the punishment Of violators with such
vigor that law will adequately protect
the patriotic citizen and penalize the
iawless bootlegger. We especially urge
the severest penalties upon those who
employ boys and young men as errand
runners--as drivers of the bootlegger' 8
trucks and automobiles Fines are not
adequate to meet such low practices. /"
Browns Selection Praised.
The District Commissioners were
commended on the appointment of Mai.
Brown a. superintendent of police, this
section Of the resolution also adding:
We believe that the successful work
OF the prohibition squad. under the d.
rection of Lieut.. George Little de-
serves and receives the hearty approval
Of all law-abiding citizens"
The publicity given to 'untruth" on
the beverage use of alcohol by the radio,
the newspaper 'and other printed ma
terials, as we'll as the motion picture. !"
was deplored by the resolutions. which
declared such deliberate misrepre-
sentation Of the facts contributes a
most sinister menace to the welfare
and happiness of every child in Amer
lea" Attention of public school au-
thorlties was called to the law reuuir-
Ing instruction on the narcotic nature
and detrimental effect of the beverage
use of alcohol"
Continued zeal" of the Women's
Christian Temperance union of the
District of Columbia was commended.
and the league reafirmed the pro-
nouncement of the Anti-Saloon League
of America on prohibition generally.
Continuance of prohibition as a mat
ter of public good and private we'll
being" was urged because America
stands so far In advance of all coun-
tries where liquor is freely sold. in
public health. business welfare, child
welfare, education, social work, savings,
insurance, and many other items"
Mr.. Kelly urged the league to 20
into action Immediately II it wished
to save prohibition. Declaring it would
be backward step" to repeal an
amendment to the Constitution, Mr..
Kelly characterized the national pro-
hibition act as wonderful piece of
legislation" He described the method
Of making arrests for violations Of the
liquor laws here in the District, the
use Of informers. and the procedure
in handling liquor cases in court. He
said that Assistant United States Dis
trict Attorney Hart knew the personal
history of virtually every man who had
ever been convicted of violating the
liquor laws in this city
Legal Complications Feared.
Passage Of the Black beer bill. he pre-
dicted, would complicate the legal sit
uation in the District. FOR instance,
he referred to the law against operat-
ING An automobile under the irfiiianca