Evening star., 1953-02-01
Mrs. Mason Ends Final Term
On Alcoholic Control Board
Served Five Times
On D. c. Group After
Leading Repeal Fight

A generation ago a group of
women, most of them of social
prominence, banded together to
do something about prohibition.
They were determined to get
rid of it. The "great social and
economic experiment, noble in
motive and far-reaching in pur-
pose" as Herbert Hoover called
it, was staggering from the ef-
fects of the depression, crime and
corruption.
The leader of the group was
Mrs Charles H. Sabin, wife of
New York banker, the former
Polly Morton, heir to a great salt
fortune, who is now Mrs. Dwight
F. Davis of this city.
Her lieutenant in Washington,
the District chairman of the
Women's Organization for Ma
tional Prohibition Reform, was
Mrs. William Beverley Mason.
The women's organization pro-
vided the death blow for prohibi-
ton. AS it grew in numbers it
demonstrated the fallacy of the
idea accepted by politicians that
all women were for the 18th
Amendment.
Prohibition was repealed and
the new President, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, said:
mo one wants to see the sa-
loon return"
| Mrs. Mason felt responsible
for her part and accepted ap-
pointment to the first District
Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board.
Yesterday Agnes K. Mason flu
ished her fifth term in that Of
flee, clearing the desk for he1
successor. She was over so wher
appointed and last summer the
Commissioner made an excep-
ton to the retirement rule tC
allow her to continue beyond hel
10th birthday.
She is tall, slender, white
haired and patrician in appear
ance.
Better Dhan Prohibition.
How did she feel about repea,
almost 20 years after? And the
81, 900 arrests for drunkenness ir
Washington in 1852, about zoe
defendants in drunk court every
Monday.
She thought it was better thar
prohibition.
'"You can't legislate morality,
she said. 1--WE said that agair
and again and I will continue tt
say it.
Repeal brought drinking out
in the open, which was a gooc
thing. / am firm in the opinion
that there was more drinking
during prohibition than there i:
now"
One thing that has disturbed
Mrs. Mason and others is the
amazingly high figure OF pei
capita consumption in Wash
ington, 5.36 gallons year about
26 fifths of hard liquor for every
man. woman and child in Wash
ington.
Washington has the lowest taz
rate on liquor in the Nation. Le-
gal liquor costs less here thar
anywhere else. Much sold here
is moved surreptitiously to dry
counties in North Carolina, Ten
nessee and other States.
1--WE explain that to the pro-
hibitionists," Mrs. Mason said
"and they go right on saying thai
Washington is the most intem-
perate community in the Ma
ton"
Prohibition Return.
Did she think that prohibition
will ever come back?
mo" said Mrs. Mason. "but
there will be strong movement
here for Government liquor
stores, which I am dead against
| The local liquor trade, as one
of the retailers told this reporter
thinks the sun rises and sets
with Mrs. Mason. They gave hel
dinner at the Statler last
March attended by about 1900
and a testimonial scroll that is
one of her cherished keepsakes
Mrs. Mason worked hard from
the very first. The job is not an
easy one. Around license re-
newal time, which is right now,
there are several hearings a
week. She has a reputation for
independent thinking-she often
voted alone. She was liberal
about the issuance of licenses