Evening star., 1942-10-01
ABCCensorshiip
Plan Arouses
Sharp Debate
Kronheim Attacked
For Renewal of Price
Bon Proposal

Questions Of Americanism, fret
expression and what makes mar
drink too much were raised today
at q hearing before the District
Commissioners on long series o1
proposed changes in liquor rule.
and regulations
Opposing factions engaged ir
verbal fireworks over change
which would empower the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board to censor
local beverage advertising, includ-
ing newspaper ads and radio script
The hearing, called after the in.
dustry and the public had beer
given an extended time to consider
the proposals, started off calmly
enough, but controversy began
when the subject of censoring ad-
vertising was reached.
The proposed new regulation
would forbid any licensee either di.
rectly or indirectly to advertise his
wares by radio, newspaper, period
ical or other publication, printed
matter, sign or placard, unless hi
had first submitted the same tt
the (ABC) board for examination
and filed with it photograph il.
lustration, sketch or description o1
such sign, placard or display, with
all wording thereon, and a copy ol
any advertisement or radio broad.
cast, and unless the board has ap.
proved in writing the same, as ir
compliance with the provisions Of
the act and regulations.
Those in Favor.
Lined up for adoption of such q
rule were Mrs. Tillie C. Brown. a
retailer; Max Kossow, a dealer, and
Martin F. ODonoghue, speaking for
the District Retail Liquor Dealers
Association.
Vigorous opposition came from Earl
Baker, business manager of the
Washington Daily News; Rudolph
Yeatman, representing the Wash
1ngton Times-Herald w. Cameron
Burton, representing wholesalers anc
manufacturers and distributors OF
beer, and Leo A. Rover, former
United States attorney, who repre-.
sented Clark's, Inc.
Kronheim Enters Discussion.
Milton S. Kronheim, ST., whole
sale liquor dealer and head of the
Beverage Industry Committee, tolc
the Commissioners he was afraid the
ABC Board would be swamped with
work if the censorship plan was
adopted, but that he was strongly
opposed to fragrant and offensive
advertising.
Mr.. Kronheim said he doubted
whether the proposed plan was the
right cure" but said "a straight -out
ban on price advertising would be- a
sure way of treating the evil"
His suggestion of ban on price
advertising, which has been sought
unsuccessfully by group led by Mr.
Kronheim for two years or more,
touched off loud debate
Mr.. Rover declared that censorship
was both unnecessary and un-
American and he termed the plan
a radical proposal" He declared the
ABC Board was "derelict" in its duty
If the described evils had prevailed
since it had power already to call g
Icensee before it and tell him stop
this or we will stop your business.
Hasn't Been Derelict.
But the ABC Board has not been
derelict in its duty, Mr.. Rover de-
clared.
Mr.. Rover then leveled an attack
at Mr.. Kronheim declaring that the
same group that had tried to per-
suade the ABC Board and the Com.
missioners and Congress unsuccess.
fully in the past to ban liquor price
advertising, today were trying to dc
the same thing by IAN indirect
method
Mr.. Rover said: Il disagree with
Mr.. Kronheim but I admire him fol
his frankness-he is in favor of 6
prohibition on price advertising"
He then suggested that Mr.. Kron.
helm look to his own firm" if ht
thought there was too much adver.
tising of liquor, asserting that thu
Kronheim firm uses much adver.
tising."
Let's be consistent and intel.
iectually honest Mr.. Rover pleaded
Rover Is Challenged.
Challenging Mr.. Rover's views, Mr.
ODonoghue protested about ads fol
the sale of liquor in case lots, ane
said 1t was cheaper for retailers tt
buy case lots of some brands from
other retailers, than from whole.
salers, and he added I'VE know there
is bootlegging and sales on Sun
days"
Attacking the Rover suggestion
that censorship of liquor advertiser.
would be American" Mr.
O'Donoghue, pointed to one adver
tisement, and shouted:
This tells the public you are goinl
to be taxed more on your liquor
come in and buy now and lay up ,
stock-take the tax funds which tn,
Government needs for war produc
ton. If you want to know what i
un-American, that's it."
Mr.. Baker argued that the publ
Is entitled to know the prices o
alcoholic beverages as well as an
other merchandise.
Mr.. Yeatman discussed the tim
involved in submitting advertising
to the Beverage Control Board ant
getting it's action. He asked that tn
matter be given further considera
ton and said a different plan nigh
be suggested.
Commissioner Mason asked tina
Mr.. Yeatman and others get togeth
er and draw up plan.
cnuntv Minute Mon