Mrs. A. Morris Carey, Baltimore, Md., representing mass meeting of the Maryland State law enforcement committee.

Mrs. M. L. Shoup, representing Women's Missionary Society of the Free Methodist Church of the United States.

Mrs. John L. King, representing National Women's Foreign Mission Society, Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. J. M. Stearns, St. Louis, Mo., representing Christian Woinen Disciples of Christ, 5,000 local organizations, constituency 150,000

voters.

Mrs. Julian C. Dowell, representing Miss Ellen Pendlton, president Wellesley College.

Mrs. Harrison, Atlantic City, representing the Y. W. C. A.
Mrs. Seymour, Atlantic City.

We have with us as a special representative Dr. Ellen Potter, member of the State board of Pennsylvania. She will explain the question she will speak to.

May I say, Mr. Chairman, that we are a voluntary organization of women, simply an affiliation of the great boards and organizations of women organized three and a half years ago, thinking alike on great fundamental questions of national and international importance, organized to be ready at any time of emergency to speak for the great body of from twelve to eighteen million of the women of the Protestant churches and the general federation of the women's clubs. The women have been appointed by their own organizations to serve on this body. They are here at the call of this convention. They have come at their own expense. There are no salaried officers. We are not affiliated with any temperance organizations, except the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which is one of the nine great national organizations with us.

We have a strong feeling that the women ought to be represented by the men who stand for the great objectives of women. We represent here to-day not only organizations of women, but, as a whole, we represent the home, the school, the church, and we stand firmly for no amendment to the eighteenth amendment. We hold the Constitution of the United States inviolate. We stand for no modification of the Volstead Act, but rather a strengthening. We stand for Istrict law enforcement, with the removal of all men who do not strictly enforce the law.

We are opposed to any amendment of the eighteenth amendment which came after 33 States had adopted prohibition, and was enacted into law with the ratification of 46 States and 92 out of 96 State legislatures, and came as a result of the liquor traffic which resulted in the very dangerous conditions brought about by the saloon.

We believe that to amend the Constitution and to change the laws based thereon would bring back those old conditions. We heartily approve of the one-half of 1 per cent alcoholic content which became the internal revenue law as the result of the strong pressure of the brewers who feared the cutting in on their trade by the soft-drink manufacturers. Since it was the brewers' standard, adopted by the Government and declared by the Supreme Court enforceable, we see no reason for raising the question.

The objections to the changes suggested would be that if liquor was sold under license, by whatever name called, the place where it was sold, without any question, would result in the old conditions of

the saloon. If it were sold without license-2.75 per cent beer or 4 per cent beer-we should have a much more serious condition than under license.

We believe that in the greater part of the territory of this country the law is observed as well as any law. Having traveled in various parts of this country we did not observe more drinking than ever. We find conditions vastly improved. Health, as testified to by the insurance companies; morals, as shown by the statements which will be produced later; and certainly the economic condition, on the word of our Secretary of Commerce, seem to have justified prohibition.

The conditions in States like New York and Maryland, where there is no State enforcement law, which is required by the eighteenth amendment, framed to secure concurrent action, are bad. The only remedy, it seems to us, as women, is not a change of law which is satisfactory to the majority of the States, but to do what the Constitution requires to make the law enforceable. That would remove very many of the offenses which are piled up to prove that the Nation is not appearing to enforce its laws.

As women, we know the old saloon and the wreckage in homes and lives of boys, men, and women. While the vote for the eighteenth amendment was the vote of the men-it was also the vote of the women who had prayed and worked for protection from this ancient evil. We had thought it settled, and perhaps for that reason and believing in the Constitution, we have not done as much as we should have done to see to the enforcement of the law. Perhaps we as women, not being in the position to select men who should administer these laws, trusted too much and needed the awakening which has We are convinced that we have a good law-a righteous law-written into the Constitution of the United States-that it does not in any way affect the personal liberty of well-doers-those loyal to the highest interests of the country and the great majority of the people.

We are not satisfied that the law is being enforced in all places. We are sure it will be when the Nation has had time to adjust itself. In a well-regulated home it is the policy of a mother to work faithfully and patiently, knowing that perfect obedience requires law and discipline. It is never the policy of a good mother or teacher to say the children are disobedient-therefore let us give in to them and let them do as they like.

And now if I may call witnesses. Their statements will be very brief if there are no questions. And may I say, Mr. Chairman, we wish to thank first the gentlemen who so courtesously allowed us to have this time while we are here having our convention. We are appearing out of order, for they have not finished their side yet, but they allowed us to come on, and we appreciate it very much. The women were on the way and we could not stop them, and we appreciate very much the privilege of being heard now. We came here in the province of God, not knowing that this was to come up in Congress or in a hearing. Our dates were settled upon four months ago. It is a providential happening that we are here on the 12th day of April with the groups of women representing all these States, and they will speak to you.

Senator REED of Missouri. I would like to ask a question or two, please.

Mrs. PEABODY. Senator Bruce?

Senator REED of Missouri. Reed.

Mrs. PEABODY. I beg your pardon.

Senator REED of Missouri. You say you stand for no modification of the Volstead Act, and then you said you stood for strengthening it, which would be a modification, of course. Now tell us about that. Mrs. PEABODY. I am in a hurry to get through with this large number of witnesses we have here in a short space of time this morning, and do not know that I could give it to you in the short time we have. Senator REED of Missouri. I am not trying to tie you down to any definite phraseology, but do want to get just what your position here is. Mrs. PEABODY. We stand for no lessening of the strength of the national prohibition law but rather a strengthening of the law where it might be weak.

Senator REED of Missouri. How do you propose to have the laws strengthened?

Mrs. PEABODY. Well, I think that comes more properly later on in our presentation of our case, but, we would strengthen it in the two States, New York and Maryland, where there is no State enforcement act, and where the laws, it is quite evident, are very seriously broken, and where the great body of law breakers are going on more freely because in those States the legislatures have not complied with the eighteenth amendment, which provides for concurrent State and Federal action.

Senator REED of Missouri. You would strengthen the Volstead Act in those two States, do you mean?

Mrs. PEABODY. I would have State law enforcement acts framed and enacted by the legislatures of the States.

Senator REED of Missouri. Then you do not propose that the Congress shall amend the Volstead Act, but your proposition is that the State legislatures of New York and Maryland shall be induced to pass State acts?

Mrs. PEABODY. Yes.

Senator REED of Missouri. Otherwise you like the Volstead Act as it is?

Mrs. PEABODY. We like it, Mr. Reed, not because the one-half of 1 per cent represents any temperance organization, but represents the association of brewers, who a generation ago, in defending themselves against the soft-drink manufacturers, established one-half of 1 per cent as not alcoholic, and that was accepted by the Internal Revenue Bureau as the standard, and has held for generations, and now has been taken up by the Congress and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States as enforceable.

Senator REED of Missouri. That was not quite my question. I just wanted to get your views, Mrs. Peabody, because there are propositions pending before this subcommittee now to change the Volstead Act in many respects along the line of presumptively making it have more strength.

Mrs. PEABODY. Yes.

Senator REED of Missouri. Now, if I understand you, you are content with the Volstead Act as it now stands, but you want the Legislatures of New York and Maryland to pass State acts which would commit those States to similar legislation for enforcement as that of the Federal Volstead Act.

Mrs. PEABODY. Yes; or even stronger, if possible.

Senator REED of Missouri. Now, that is the point. Do you want to see any change in the Volstead Act?

Mrs. PEABODY. No; not unless you can make it stronger.

Senator REED of Missouri. But you would like to have it made stronger?

Mrs. PEABODY. Yes. I think we feel, Mr. Reed, that the difficulty is not with the law, as we have discussed it in our conferences, the difficulty is not with the eighteenth amendment or the law passed thereunder, but the difficulty has been in adjusting the great new body of legislation, Federal and State, and we believe that in time that will be done. We are not in the least discouraged, but we feel the people have not fully understood

Senator REED of Missouri (interposing). Exactly, but I wish you would please stick to the question, because I do not wish to take your time as it must be limited this morning. Are you content with the Volstead Act as it is now, or do you desire amendments to be made to it and in the nature of making it have more strength?

Mrs. PEABODY. We will accept it as it was passed originally by Congress, and gladly, if it may be enforced by proper officials who are in sympathy with it.

Senator REED of Missouri. Are you satisfied with section 29 of the Volstead Act?

Mrs. PEABODY. I have not the document with me, if I might refer to it.

Senator HARRELD (presiding). That is the section that applies to ciders and home brews.

Mrs. PEABODY. I think I might say that we have been satisfied, and we have gone over it very carefully in our organization, and while I can not carry in my mind the provisions to which you refer, yet if you will read it I will be glad to attempt to tell you.

Senator REED of Missouri. I have not a copy of the law here with me. Senator HARRELD. It particularly applies to ciders and home brews.

Mrs. PEABODY. But I will say that we will leave it to the judgment of our legislatures and the Congress, as to details, if it may not be made any weaker than it is now. We are not in position to vote in the Congress, we are only in position to accept the strongest thing you can give us in the way of enforcement and the weakest thing in the way of liquor, if you please. [Applause on the part of the delegation accompanying Mrs. Peabody.]

I think that is out of order, ladies, if I may say it to those who are accompanying me, is it not, Mr. Chairman?

Senator HARRELD. Well, it is out of order, but it has been allowed. Senator REED of Missouri. Yes, it has been allowed, but we can get along very well without it on either side. I still want to know, and I am very serious about it-and I am trying, Mrs. Peabody, to extend to you all the courtesy you are entitled to, and you are entitled to every courtesy; you say you are not in position to vote in Congress. That is true, but you are here to advise this subcommittee this morning as to how they should report to Congress, with a view to advising the Congress how it should vote. Now, I am again recurring to the question whether you are content with the Volstead Act as it now

stands or whether you have amendments that you want us to recommend.

Mrs. PEABODY. We will not present any amendment, Senator Reed. Senator REED of Missouri. Very well. Now, you spoke of these organizations that you represent. These various organizations did not create this particular committee that you now lead, did they? Mrs. PEABODY. Yes.

Senator REED of Missouri. Or did they send some delegates to make up this organization?

Mrs. PEABODY. If I may pass in this letterhead giving a record of the organizations, or may I read the organization membership of the Woman's National Committee for Law Enforcement?

Senator HARRELD. You may either read it, or put it in the record without reading it, if you wish.

Mrs. PEABODY. The organizations acting for themselves, in their own way, appointed representatives, and I think your question will be answered if I may put in the record this letterhead, which gives the names of the representatives, and is the official committee and has been for three years and a half.

Senator HARRELD. That may be made a part of the record. (The letterhead is as follows:)

WOMAN'S NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION-OBSERVANCE OF LAW

Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, General Federation of Women's Clubs.
Mrs. James A. Webb, jr., Young Women's Christian Association.

Mrs. A. H. Reeve, Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Association.
Miss Annie Florence Brown, Lend-a-Hand Society.

General chairman, Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, Beverly, Mass.

First vice chairman, Mrs. Roswell Miller, 129 East Fifty-second Street, New York City.

Second vice chairmen, Mrs. Gordon Norrie; Mrs. William Tilton, 11 Mason Street, Cambridge, Mass.

Treasurer, Miss Hilda L. Olson, 1 Arsenal Square, Cambridge, Mass.

Vice chairmen, Mrs. William F. McDowell, Federation of Women's Boards of Foreign Missions of North America; Mrs. Fred S. Bennett, Council of Women for Home Missions; Mrs. George H. Prior, International Order of King's Daughters; Mrs. Philip North Moore, National Council of Women; Mrs. Ellis Yost, Women's Christian Temperance Union.

(Other vice chairmen will be added later.)

Secretary, Mrs. Frank Shuler, 129 East Fifty-second Street, New York City. Committee at large: Mrs. W. L. Darby, Mrs. Clarence C. Macy, Miss Mary Garrett Hay, Mrs. Ella Boole.

(On reverse of letterhead:)

The Woman's National Committee for Law Enforcement is to work for enforcement of all law with special stress, at present, on the prohibition law, the front to-day where the battle against lawlessness has to be fought.