Evening star., 1933-01-16
CANNON ATTACKS
BEER BILL GROUP.
'LaWleSs Lawmakers Franz
ing Legislation, Bishop
Tells Vigilance Meeting.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BUFFALO. N. Y. January 16.-
Speaking under auspices of the Amer
ican Vigilance League to observe the
thirteenth anniversary Of the adoption
OF the eighteenth amendment. Bishop
James Cannon. jr- OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, asserted here
yesterday that the prohibition law was
hamstrung almost beyond recovery
under the Mellon regime" and that the
legislators now framing a beer bill in
Washington were ''lawless lawmakers"
After the House of Representatives
had passed the Collier bill. notwith-
standing evidence, he said that it was
unconstitutional. The bishop asserted
the Senate had done worse in endeavor-
ing to shape a bill that attempted to
nullify the Constitution by subterfuge.
They are willing to undermine the
Constitution to pass beer bill,' he de-
clared
Bishop Cannon said he believed that
John D. Rockefeller, jr., had New York
inferiority complex concerning prohibi-
ton" and that DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler was the apostle of infallibility."
Rockefeller Called Ignoramus.
Mr Rockefeller's statement last July
that drinking has increased. especially
was the target of the bishop "Testi-
mony given before the committee hear
ing on beer shows that Mr.. Rockefeller
is an ignoramus on the subject and
doesn't know what he is talking about"
Bishop Cannon said.
1 don't know whether they will pass
a beer bill or not" the bishop continued,
but l know we cannot prevent the
return OF the saloon. cannot protect the
dry States unless the prohibition law
Is retained unchanged"
In another part of his address. Bishop
Cannon said: Why. now after IS years,
is the country faced with the question
OF the repeal or modification of the
eighteenth amendment? First. and
foremost, because of lack of efficient
Federal enforcement. 1t is true. as
President Hoover has declared. that the
eighteenth amendment smashed the sa-
loon regime as by stroke of lightning.
The open saloon disappeared Liquor
advertising was seen no more The
Shiny hands of the brewers. distillers
and liquor dealers no longer manipulate
city, State or national politics There
was general expectation that would
Federal and State governments would
ef1ciently cooperate to enforce the
prohibition law.
Secretary Is Blamed
But. sad to relate, the history has
been otherwise. During the greater
part of the time since 1920. Federal
enforcement has been under the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. who manifested
little interest in that part of his official
duties, with resultant grave abuses and
fragrant unchecked violations.
The employees were not under civil
service and appointments were de-
BY Congressman and Senators
as reward for political services, with
out regard to the abilities of men or
their attitude toward prohibition
"A large number of these appointed
to enforce the prohibition law had no
with it, indeed were opposed
to 1t and made no serious efforts to
check violations. Very many OF them
connived with bootleggers and accepted
bribes.
1T cannot be emphasized too strongly
that the prohibition law was hamstrung
almost beyond recovery under the Mel
Ion regime Bootleggers and speak
easies flourished. and it was openly de-
clared that the law cannot and will not
be enforced. Certainly, under the Mel
lon administration there never was any
fair opportunity to demonstrate the
or the value of the law"