THE "WETS" IN ACTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 80, 6 April 1926, Page 7

THE "WETS" IN ACTION.

MR. EDGE'S LIQUID SPEECH.

WHAT PROHIBITION IS DOING.

THE "ANTI" POINT OF VIEW.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.i

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, April 5. Mr. W. E. Edge, counsel for the "Wets/ , opening his case before the Judiciary Sub-committee of the Senate, said the Volstead law had placed human happiness under the irritating and harassing domination of a sour, corrosive, nar-row-minded Puritanism which does not hesitate to avow its enmity even to such innocent recreations as smoking and dancing.

Secondly, for the first time, it has brought the Church deeply into politics. Thirdly, it has established a settled commerce between the worthier and most unworthy members of the community.

Fourthly, it has created an underworld almost as thoroughly organised as the resnectable world above it.

Fifthly, it ha"s tended to bring all laws, including iteelf, into more or less disrespect. Sixthly, it has lowered the prestige of the Federal Government.

Seventhly, it > has fostered deceit, perfidy, espionage, and tyranny in some of their most hateful asrjects.

Lastly, it has been "responsible for the unprecedented phenomenon of thousands of thousands of reputable men and women, including the ministers of the law itself, living in habitual disregard of the constitution of the law. —(A. and N.Z.)