PROHIBITION WRANGLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 11

PROHIBITION WRANGLE.

STIR IN UNITED STATES.

HOOVER AND COMMISSION. y CONTROVERSY OVER REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. [. (Received January 22, 5.5 p.m.) .WASHINGTON. Jan. 21. The report of the Commission set up by the President? Mr. Hoover, under the chairmanship of the former Attorney-Gen-eral, Mr. G. W. Wickersham, which declared against the repeal of the Eighteenth (Prohibition) Amendment but put forward a plan for its possible revision, has created a tremendous stir throughout the United States.

Apparently the Commissioners' finding has far more emphasised the question than settled it. The newspapers are filled with varying comment-, as both the "wets" and tho " drys" claim that the report aids their respective causes. The principal present results seem to he the definite knowledge that Mr. Hoover is wholly " dry" and tho widening of the split between the " wets" and " drys" in the ratiLrs of the Republican Party.

Certain critics contend that while the plan of the Commission is superficially " dry" it fundamentally opposes prohibition. These critics assert that although the report as a whole opposes the repeal of the law the individual opinions of the majority of the Commissioners are "wet," while two of them, who ask for a continued trial of prohibition, admit it is feasible only with the support of the public, which they also admit to be a " wet" plea. Excitement in Political Circles. It is contended that Mr. Hoover will be forced to temper the. recommendations so that they can appeal to both factions in 1932. Tt is suggested that tho President forced the submission of a general anti-repeal plea in order not fo be " left out on a limb" by his own Commission, the members of which asked in two cases for direct repeal, in five for modification and in four for a further trial of prohibition.

As rumours continued to spread to-day that tho President had interfered with the Commission even, it was alleged, to the extent of dictating the withdrawal from the report of the suggestion for a revision of the Eighteenth Amendment excitement in political circles increased. In the Senate, Mr. M. E. Tydings, Democrat member for Maryland, introduced a motion calling upon Mr. Wickersham to appear before the Judiciary Committee of the House to explain whether " outside influence" was exerted upon the Commission. Intervention by President Denied. Mr. Wickersham has issued a statement to the effect that reports that the President had persuaded the Commission to abandon a tcnativo agreement in favour of a revision of tho Eighteenth Amendment were absolutely untrue and without foundation.

At "White House to-day it was stated that tho President's position in connection with the Commission's report had "Wn misunderstood.

Mr. Hoover was not opposed to a revision of the law, only to a revision along tho lines outlined in the report, namely, by conferring power upon Congress to regulate or prohibit tho liquor traffic as against (he present provisions for prohibition only.