PROHIBITION IN U.S.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 10 April 1926, Page 9

PROHIBITION IN U.S.A.

' Repeal Of Volstead Law. MOVES AND COUNTER MOVES. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 9, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 8. Anton Ccrniak, President of the Chicago Board of Commissioners, testified. before the Senate Prohibition Inquiry. He declared that alcoholic patients had enormously increased in the hospital tvards since prohibition was effective, likewise insane alcoholic cases. Ho stated they were now building, a. new and larger gaol, while the appropriation for poverty and pauperism had been greatly augmented. He said there had been a steady' increase in tho'Chicago Police Department, but still the increase in Crime continues. George Brennan (Democratic political leader) testified that the law had increased drunkenness, immorality, disrespect, corruption, murder, insanity, blindness and crime in general. He said that the sensible and honest thing to do is to modify or repeal this unenforceable statute, and restore to the States their rights in this field of purely domestic legislation. The “Drys” throughout the United States are preparing to repel the “Wet” drive for a modification of the prohibition law. Hundreds- of protests from virtually’ every’ State, signed by the Women’s Welfare organisations, Church workers, and business houses have been presented to the Senate Prohibition Committee, pleading that the law .bo permitted to stand. Forty Women’s Christian Temperance Unions sent an identical message, which-,said: “We protest against any modification of the Volstead code.” Many petitions were telegraphed. Numerous Methodist Churches sent mimeographed copies of protest in which the only variation was in tho name of the church and the number of tho congregation. The Canadian Cabinet officers have lodged an informal and bitter complaint against smuggling' American liquor into Canada, after which it is re-smuggled to the United States as Canadian. MAKING ANANIAS ASHAMED.

PUSSYFOOT JOHNSON’S CONFESSIONS. •r Cable—Fr«m Aaioclatfos—Copyright. . 'Australian ..ami N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 9, 8:25 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 8 The United Press by permission of the publishers reprint extracts from Pussyfoot ohnson’s story appearing in the International Cosmopolitan Magazine. Pussyfoot Johnson, describing his part in the campaign leading to prohibition, said: “I told enough lies for tho cause to make Ananias ashamed of himself.” He declared he once bribed the Russian officials to give him information to aid his work. Ho said: “I drank gallons in the campaign against liquor,” but denied the stories that life ever: took human lives during a campaign. He gave the source of such stories and said: “I like.the taste of liquor, but I never drunk it except for reasons indicated. I have not had a a dozen years, but I would take ,a. drink now if I thought it •would advance the prohibition cause.”

Johnson declared that a man’s personal habits regarding drink had not prevented him aiding tho cause. 'There were many drinking men amongst the supporters of prohibition.