Evening star., 1951-02-19
Clinic Debates
Nomination
OF Donohue
Drys Deery Proposal
But Other Witness
Defends Attorney
By Don S. Warren

last in a series of citizens legisla.
tive clinics conducted by the Sen.
ate District Committee.
Two witnesses representing dry
forces took the stand to object tt
the Donohue nomination and tt
ask that confirmation be denied
because of his long career as ar
attorney for liquor licensees.
They were DR.. j. Raymond
Schmidt, president of the United
Dry Forces of the District, ano
general superintendent of the Ma.
tional Civic League, and DR.
Thomas E. Boorde. Both are
members of the Prohibition Ma
tional Committee.
Views Challenged.
Another witness, Mrs. Edward
Morris, who had testified earlier
for the Fort Davis Citizens Asso.
citation on other subjects arose te
challenge their views.
II do not happen to know Mr.
Donohue personally" Mrs. Morris
said. But I have talked with
numerous people who do know
him, and they assure me he is
man of the highest character ano
integrity"
Mrs. Morris suggested that be-
cause Mr.. Donohue had acted as
attorney for liquor interests. he
probably would '1ean over back
ward" in any decisions he made
as a Commissioner on liquor
problems.
Hearing Set February 27.
District Committee Chairman
Neely joined in this discussion
only to renew his announcement
that public hearing on the ap'
pointment of Mr.. Donohue woulc
be held before the committee
February 81 at 10 am.
DR.. Schmidt indorsed protest
against the Donohue appointment
voiced last week by DR.. Frederick
E. Reissig, secretary of the Wash
ington Federation Of Churches but
who testified as an individual.
Dr.. Schmidt declared "even the
casual observer can see that the
appointment was bestowed as q
reward for generous contributions
and faithful support of the Demo
cratic Party in the 1948 campaign
and not because of his qualifica-
tions for the important office"
He added that his principal rea-
son for opposing confirmation of
Mr.. Donohue lis the fact that he
has been the mouthpiece of the
liouor interests for a number of
years"
DR.. Boorde took the stand
briefly to indorse the position
taken by DR.. Schmidt. Like DR.
Schmidt, he also urged enactment
of bill. to make admissible a:
evidence in the courts the results
of blood, urine or breath tests o1
motorists to determine the amount
of alcohol in their blood.
Chairman Nicely said he would
introduce such a measure at theil
request if they would promise tt
support it at public hearings.
Home Rule Bill Plugged.
Numerous witnesses took the
stand today to call for enactment
of the Washington home rule bill
for an elected and reorganized city
government. These included Mrs
Louis Gutenberg, speaking for the
Washington chapter of the Ma
tional Council of Jewish Women;
the Rev Stephen Spottswood, fol
the District branch of the Ma.
tional Association for Advance.
ment of Colored People, and Cul.
yer B. Chamberlain, representing
the Central Suffrage Conference
Chairman Nicely warned home
rule advocates that unless they
showed much more enthusiasm
they would fail once again.
IF you could get the citizens tc
devote as much energy for the
blessings of suffrage as I have
been giving, you'll get both home
rule and national representation
before the end of this session OF
Congress"
He said, however, he had not
found this enthusiasm and pro-
tested the lack of big turnout
for the citizens clinics.
Mrs. Gutenberg said home rule
and national representation had
been made the number one objec-
tive of the Council of Jewish
Women. She protested that Dis
trict officials had thrown some
handicaps in the path of those
campaigning for local suffrage
and cited the case of the Paul
Revere ride last spring through
Washington streets to advertise
votes for Washington.
City officials, she recalled, per-
mitted the horseback ride but
ruled out bells and other noise
makers and had escort cars be-
fore and behind Paul Revere anc
his horse and limited the ride tt
very slow pace
Drew Little Attention.
AS a result, she protested, M
one paid much attention.
Mrs. Gutenberg also advocated
legislation to strengthen the Dis.
trict's child labor laws and tt
establish commission on human
rights to promote better race re
lations in the District.
Mr.. Chamberlain said home rule
advocates were becoming ''tiree
and weary" of asking support
from members Of Congress who
hold Office by reason of the demo
cratic process. This brought q
retort from Senator Neely that
the home rule advocates haven't
done enough.
In addition to supporting local
suffrage, Mr.. Spottswood sup
ported the Nicely bill for a human
rights commission.
Mrs Morris ackod for SIIppnri