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Show VOLSTEAD ACT WAS SAVED BY SEN. KENDRICK P,y .U'l.TAN SNYDER (United Tress Staff Correspondent) WASHINGTON, .Tune I I (UP) How one vote decided the fate of the Volstead Act In 1917 and brought prohibition is revealed. It was a senator who cast this decisive vote the iiiet, keen-eyed Kendriclc, Dem., of Wyoming. In voting as he did. Kendrick disobeyed dis-obeyed the late President Wilson but he saved the Volstead Act from being shelved in the Agriculture committee. I disobeyed President Wilson who did not think it was fair that congress should ennct the dry law while our men were overseas, but I (nought it was the only way to get rid of the saloon," Kendrick told the United Tress in an exclusive interview. inter-view. "I think that (lie Volstead Act was .wise legislation. We had rid ourselves of the saloon." Kendrick said he did not favor a national referendum, although he admitted the "wetness" of eastern states offered a grave problem. "However," he added, "I don't think we have given prohibition a fair chance yet. It is too early to talk about modification." Kendrick them told bow he saved the Volstead Act in 1917. The agriculture committee was considering whether to report the dry law to the senate. A vote was taken. The result was a tie. Three senators voted for and three against the measure. "At the time the vote was taken I was attending a session of the finance fin-ance committee." Kendrick said. "Senator Sheppnrd called me and told me the committee vote on the Volstrtid Act was a tie which would have shelved the bill. I was a member of the agriculture committee, commit-tee, so I hurried to the committee room. At first they refused to permit per-mit me to vote, saying the vote bad already been taken. "Finally they agreed to my arguments argu-ments and I voted to report the bill. The Volstead Act was thus reported re-ported favorably by a margin of one vote." |