FAR FROM DRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 27, 1 February 1930, Page 9

FAR FROM DRY.

AMERICAN "FLARE-UP." Drinking Charged in Exclusive New York Club. :■! SENSATION IN SENATE. [United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 31. A sensation was caused in the Senate yesterday when, during a recrudescence of the dispute'on prohibition, Mr. S. W. Brookhart (Rep., Iowa) read a letter asking for an investigation into the alleged drinking of gin cocktails in the Century Club, New York. As the club named includes in its membership most of America's leading citizens, and as a former United States Attorney-General, Mr. G. W. Wickersham, now head of the President's Law Enforcement Commission, is a vicepresident of the institution, there was an immediate "flare-up." Mr. Brookhart expressed the hope that Mr. Wickersham would be able to advise how such violations of the law in the club could be stopped. Mr. M. E. Tydings (Dem., Maryland) said scenes such as were alleged in the letter could be seen in other clubs in other cities. Mr. R. S. Copeland (Dem., New York), speaking for his own State, declared that there was more drinking than ever before. Mr. Tydings continuing, said that 813 persons had died from alcoholism in the United States in 1929. The Government had seized 250,000 illicit stills and. 27,000,000 gallons of fermented "mash." Outside, people apparently did not drink; inside, they had all they wanted.