Evening star., 1934-05-15
,DRY FORCES HERE
|PLAN CONVENTION
|FOR ORGANIZATION
Alarmed Over Increasing In
toxiCation Arrests in
Past Two Months.
LA ROE PRESENTS GRAPH
SHOWING DRUNKENNESS
Cannon, Tufts, Chase, Ellison
and Mrs. Wadleigh Score
Conditions.

Alarmed by figures showing the
number of arrests here for intoxica-
ton has increased by about one-han
in the past two months, Washington
dry leaders gathered in the Methodist
Building last night and took pre-
liminary steps toward organization of
federation of all District dry forces.
A committee of Is, to be appointed
DR.. Everett NJ. Ellison, who presided
last night, was authorized to call a
dry convention within 30 days and
invite delegates from all local temper
ance and prohibition organizations.
all sympathetic churches, citizens
associations and other interested
groups. The committee will submit a
plan of organization to this conven-
ton.
Figures Given in Graph.
The arrest figures were presented in
the form of a graph by Wilbur La
Roe, jr., chairman of the Committee
on Civic Affairs of the Washington
reOerdLlOn OF CnurcneS.
The chart depicted a rather rapid
rise in the number of arrests for
drunkenness since February, 1888,
which reached a peak last month
with 2,307. This is contrasted with
l,l47 for February Of last year.
This chart speaks so eloquently
for itself that no extended comment
IN II iS Fr
One Of the assurances given us by
our wet friends was that with the
termination of prohibition, arrests for
alcoholic intoxication would decrease
because the liquor would be of better
quality and there would be no tempta-
ton to violate a law. The only ad-
ditional comment have to make is
that automobile fatalities have IN
creased in about the same ratio.
In January Of this year, the
deaths from automobile accidents in
the District of Columbia were 1873 per
cent greater than in the same month
last year. In February, they were IA
per cent greater In March, they we're
200 per cent greater, and, in April,
nearly 100 per cent greater.
Hits Public Officials.
"It Is not at all surprising that the
tremendous increase in arrests for
alcoholic intoxication has been &C
companied by an alarming increase in
the number of persons killed in auto
mobile accidents. The surprising
thing is, not that automobile accidents
are increasing, but that some of the
public officials profess not to know
the reason. The only important diff
ference in conditions known to us
this year compared with last year is
the increased availability and con-
sumption OF liquor"
Mr.. La Roe urged that the fight
against liquor and for the return Of
national prohibition be conducted
through the amassing and presenta-
ton of facts.
THE solution Of our problem" he
declared, Lies in trying this case
before the bar of honest American
opinion"
Throughout the meeting, attended
by about rs men and women. Mrs.
William Beverly Mason, only woman
member of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board here, was the subject
Of severe condemnation.
I'VE don't have much trouble with
the men on the board" said DR.. Elli-
son, "but whenever we try to get any,
thing, she is against U.S."
Scores Mrs. Mason.
Mrs. w. H. Wadleigh said 1t was
improper for Mrs. Mason to serve on
the board because she was District
chairman Of the Women's Organiza-
ton for National Prohibition Reform
before repeal. She also was a ma
tional vice chairman, but resigned
both Offices when appointed to the
liquor board.
Other delegates said Mrs. Mason
never had been known to vote against
granting liquor license.
Told Of these remarks this morn
ing, Mrs. Mason said that's all they
know about it. have voted against
lot of license applications" She
said she wasn't surprised" at the
opposition to her, but knew of no
reason for it other than her former
anti-prohibition Affiliations.
AAC 0so1 was praised LOT lLS refusal
to accept liquor advertisements.
Bishop James Cannon, jr., recentlv
acquitted here of a charge of conspir-
ing to violate the Federal corrupt
practices act, was present at the
meeting and spoke briefly.
Not scheduled as one Of the speak,
ers, the bishop was invited by the
chairman to relate some of the events
of his life.
The clergyman replied that he had
no intention Of talking about himself,
and then proceeded to tell of the
stand against liquor taken by the re-
cent General Conference Of the Meth.
odist Episcopal Church South at
jackson, Miss.
Although contending national pro-
hibition is the only way properly to
control the liquor traffic, the bishop
urged his audience to be practical"
and not to hesitate to support all pos
s:ble restrictions on liquor. He
prophesied that national prohibition
will come again within his lifetime.
Col. William o. Tufts of the Wash
ington Federation of Churches out.
lined recent developments concerning
liquor here. Canon william Sheafe
Chase advocated an attempt to upset
the constitutionality Of repeal through
an appeal to the United States Su-
preme Court.
A number Of others spoke extem-
poraneously from the floor.