PROHIBITION LAW

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 179, 23 April 1924, Page 7

PROHIBITION LAW

CONDEMNED BY MR. GOMPERS LEGALISED SALE OF BEER ADVOCATED Washington, April 21. Mr. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labour, appeared before the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives during its first hearing of evidence regarding Bills for the liberalising of the Volstead (Prohibition) law. There are now 59 identical Bills before the House. Mr. Gompers said: “The law violates the spirit of American freedom. Only a return to a warming and palatable drink will bring content to the working classes. It is with the desire to avoid calamity that I propose modification. The Volstead Act has brought corruption to the Government and discontent, death, and crime among the people. The legalised sale of beers containing 2-J pier cent, of alcohol would transform us from a whisky to a beer drinking people. The suggestions which look for the repeal of the Amendment are impracticable. I don’t propose to beat my head against a stone wall, and therefore a modification is sufficient.” Women composed more than half the audience, where there also appeared representatives of several organisations which have long opposed prohibition. It was noted, however, that the white ribbons of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union appeared i,i the Capitol for the first time in five years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.