"Drys" Oppesed to Investigation New York, Feb. 18. was announced to-day that the "Literary. Digest" believing that prohibition in the United States had Teached a point where the taking. of a straw vote would prove a valuable indication of the trend of popular sentiment, has prepared 20,000,000 Dallots which will be distributed throughout the country within short time, The "Digest's straw votes have resent situation as it has developed, Mr. Joy charged that Mr. George W. Wickersham, chairman of President Hoover's Law Enforcement Commission, had. for years! been a power in organizations supporting the efurch lobby.
Mr. Gratson, Murphy, a banker, declared that prohibition has brought, unfair tactics of law enforcement, murders, corruption and hypscrisy._ Similay testimony was offered by been so rematkabl in their success- Wil iam Strayton, chairman of the ful forecasting of the outcome of board of directors of the Associa past Presidential elections that such tion Against the Prohibition Amend-move would create wide-spread ment. interest. Great care is taken in dis-'Mr, Strayton said that he did not] tribution of ballots so that a true want to see any immediate repeal, eross-section of public opinion may because the legislatures of the various states should have time to In the case of both the Hoove: ass necessary Iaws for state conand the Coolidge elections the trol of the liquor traffic.
"Digest" straw vote proved, on a He said that he opposed proportionate basis, accurate beyond nationalization of sales, but favoured all expectations, and it is certain repeal of the Eighteenth Amend-that if strong sentiment either for ment together with a programme or against prohibition is indicated state control. by a vote conducted by the "Digest" fon this subject, it would be a pow Growing Interest ful fact in shaping Congressional] Washington, Feb. 20.
jion—United Press.
Senator George W. Nor!
Severe Blow to Congress posal for a sweeping investigation fof the status of prohibition enforce-Washington, Feb. 18. tent in the United States appears George Cassidy, alleged to be the to be doomed because "dry" forces "bootlegger in a green hat" who has been mentioned as a major in the Senate are unwilling.
A debate may be staged, however, source of supply for liquor. imbibed to permit the "wets" and. "drys" by members of Congress, was Who desire such an investigation to arrested for the second time to-day, in front of the Senate office building. state their views, it was said to-day.
He had six bottles of bootleg gin Meanwhile it is predicted that the sauestion of prohibition is due to in his possession when prohibition become a much greater issue in the enforcement, officials searched his approaching Congressional elections bag. than had been expected, Both sides More Testimony on Prohibition fare capitalizing their own angles of Feb, 19. the present situation and the question appears to be gaining, rather Hearings were resumed to-day by than diminishing, in importance as the House Committee on Prohibition the days pass.
Appearing at the House hearings ing to testify to the on prohibition to-day, former Senatperience and advice on "lor George H. Willi 8 of Missouri enforcement in the United States. testified that sentiment against the Among those prepared to appear Eighteenth Amendment was _20 before the group were Messrs, strong in Missouri that candidates Clu Pont, W. W. Atterbury, for the position of prosceator had Church, "Fabian Franklin, to run for office on platforms pro-Trewin, Channing Pollock and others ising not to enforce the law. who for a variety of reasons are Offiials of the state condone opposed to the Eighteenth (pro-violations of the federal prohibi hibition) amendment entire or in its tion act, Mr. Williams declared. resent form.
'Mr. 'Benedict Crowell," former Representative George 8. Graham assistant Secretary of War, told of Pennsylvania, who is chairman' the committee that arrests for of the committees, decided to-day drunkenness were on the increase! against permitting' state officials to in Cleveland despite the fact that come to Washington to cross-the police arrested only those who examine such witnesses as Mr. wore without friends to take them: Walter Liggett, writer and inves home safely. ator, who, at the initial hearing of the committee, charged Michigan Mr. Ralph Shaw of Chicago said officials with participation in "booze that the underworld was becoming parties" and said that conditions in 80 powerful and wealthy on the Kansas were "deplorable." spoils thrown into its lap by the prohibition aw that it had estab-This decision was made, aceordlished a "'super-government" ing to Congressman Graham, be-debauch the public officials. "He cause any such procedure of ex-aid, however, that there was no} amination and prolonged cross-ex-evidence of corruption of the courts. amination would prolong the hear-Mr, Frederick Coudert of New ings endlessly.
Both sides of the question will be York said that at present there are! heard fully, however, the chairman 10 speakeasies in New York City' {for one saloon that existed before assured reporters. the prohibition law.
Moderate Drinker's View Repeal of the law, nullification Mr. Channing Pollock, well known of the law or a revolution are the: writer and speaker, testified before only courses which appear 0 be the House committee on prohibition open as a result of the present] bills to-day that in the years 1923 tion, in the opinion of Mr. and 1924 he delivered 1,000 lectures Coudert. throughout the United' States and A considerable number of other never left a single town or city leading citizens are on hand without being invited to "have a give testimony in connection with drink", the hearings, which are designed He attended many Iuncheons and to bring out information bearing on the advisability of repealing or is, judges, editors, busi modifying the federal prohibition ness men, professional men and act churchmen, Mr. Pollock continued, and the affairs were practically never without alcoholic refresh Blowing the Lid Feb. 21. ments.
Mr. Pollock said that he had wine his own table every day although hhechad never been drunk in his life.
"Obviously my reasons for being here are not bacchanalinn," he continued, "I loathe drunkenness and Senators George W. Norris of Nebraska, William E. Borah of, Tdaho, and Smith W, Brookhart of Towa to-day received private information concerning prohibition enforcement which Senator Norris said "if true, will blow the lid prohibition alike as a pitiful indication-of a lack of moral stamina.
Testimony declaring that the Protestant church lobby" is respon-lo for prohibition and also for current. prohibition enforcement conditions was offered to-day be-face the House prohibition committee by Mr. Henry Joy, automobile manufacturer.
Declaring that the Protestants should be held to blame for the!
The three Senators, all Western independent Republicans and all militant advocates of strict law forcement, accordingly requested the Senate ¢o arrange for a prelimin investigation. They said that they intend to give the facts to a Senate committee on Monday.
Meanwhile Senator Norris declined to name the witnesses he intends to summon, but his facts are expect ed to be made public if a more com-
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