Evening star., 1933-04-05
MRS. SAb|N WARNS
WOMAN "WETS" Of
FIGHT IN STATES
Ratification and Regulation
Necessary Before "Return
to Knitting"
NATIONAL REFORM
ACTIVITIES REVIEWED
Response Has Been Thrilling but
Emotional and Now Must Be
Practical, Leader Says.

Practical, Leader Says.
Progress already made toward pro-
hibition repeal may prove to be nothing
more than "the parade with bands and
banners with which the troops start
out for war" as compared with the
coming fight for ratification in the
States, Mrs Charles H. Sabin, president,
warned 1000 delegates to the fourth
annual conference Of the Women's or
ganization for National Prohibition Re
form at its opening session this after
noon in the Mayflower Hotel.
With the repeal resolution through
Congress, she said, there remain two
other objectives-ratificatio and regu-
lation.
"Then," said Mrs. Sabin, I'VE may
disband and go home to our knitting"
Up to this time, she told her fol-
lowers, their work, though not easy,
has beeh comparatively simple"
I'VE have been appealing to the
hearts Of men and women to save their
children from the desperate and in
cidious danger spawned by national pro-
hibition. We have been appealing
straight to the emotions, the noble and
deep-rooted emotions of decent people.
We have had a thrilling response.
Practical Response Timely.
Now that response must be made ef-
fective by being translated from the
emotional into the practical"
Reviewing the work Of her group dur
ing the last year. she told OF the de-
cision Of the organization to throw its
strength behind the Democratic party in
the recent elections because OF that
party's liquor stand: of the loyalty of
the organizations members despite this
political decision, and finally Of the pas
sage Of the repeal resolution.
"Now we stand" she said, with what
seems miraculous suddennesS in sight of
our goal. 1t is conceivable that the
Women's Organization for National Pro-
hibition Reform may not meet for an
other national conference in Washing
ton. 1t Is conceivable that within q year
we will overthrow this insane expert
ment."
when that time comes" she said,
'1et us retire quietly from the lime
light"
That disbanding would "free for in
telligent political action" she declared,
"the largest body of instructed knowl-
edgable women ever let loose In .
democracy"
Membership Of 1,302,7o3.
Mrs. Sabfn gave the membership Of
the group as 1907 ,703. These women
have helped in sending to defeat six
bone dry Senators, among them some
who seemed as permanent fixtures in
the Capitol as the very walls" she as
serted. She also claimed part credit
"in the replacement Of 81 dry members
of the House with 81 wet and in elect
ing 18 other wet first-time candidates"
At the conclusion Of her address Mrs.
Sabin introduced Miss Sarah Schuyler
Butler. daughter of Nicholas Murray
Butler, president Of Columbia Univer-
sity.
In her maiden anti prohibition speech
Miss Butler implored the delegates to
guard against the danger Of the Amer
ican people forgetting the fundamental
question of repeal In the enthusiasm
for the return of beer
She said there Is movement on foot
by enemies Of repeal to concentrate
public opinion on the return of beer
and so distract interest from repeal
IF, by any chance" she said" this
effort should prove successful, the next
10 years would be infinitely more dis
astrous than those through which we
have just lived"
Herself delegate to the Republican
National Convention last June, Miss
Butler said that party had gone down
to crushing and merited defeat at the
hands Of an electorate who would no
longer tolerate evasion" Of the repeal
problem.
Following Miss Buffers address, re-
ports of standing committees were read
and the delegates adjourned until the
evening banquet.
Last night Mrs. Sabin appointed COM
mittees to draft the policy and program
OF the organization for its ratification
The committee reports will
be presented to the delegates for action
tomorrow morning.
Committee Members.
Included in the committee assign |
meAts are number of names well |
known here. Among them are Mrs |
Rose Yates Forester, Miss Elizabeth |
Harris, Mrs. John F. Dryden, Mrs. Will |
liam Beverley Mason, Mrs. Frederick R. |
Solger and Mrs. James F. Mitchell, all |
Of Washington, and Mrs. William Cabell |
Bruce, of Ruxton, Md. wife Of the for /
mer Maryland Senator; Mrs. John Nc |
Dufie, wife of the Representative from |
Alabama, and Mrs. Robert r. Reynolds. |
wife of the Senator from North |
Carolina.
100 Persons Expected.
There will be banquet at the May |
flower Hotel tonight Arrangements |
have been made to accommodate 1 200. |
McDufie and Repre- !
sentative James w. Wadsworth, jr., Re |
publican, of New York will be the |
speakers. Mrs. E. Roland Hartman of |
New York City will be toastmistress.
Before formal opening of the conven-
ton, Mrs. Sabin said frankly she was |
vain" because her group had been the !!
FIRST to come out for repeal ratifica- |
ton by the convention system"
wherever possible, we will elect our |
own women as delegates to those con-
ventions," she said. I'VE will proceed |
exactly as in political campaign,
making speeches, scattering literature, |
etc"
Her "only ambition" she added, was
to be elected as q delegate to the re-