Voluntary Committee of Lawyers (1927-1933)

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In 1927, The Voluntary Committee of Lawyers, Inc. was organized by a group of young New York lawyers who felt that the national prohibition law was both unjust and unenforceable. Its leaders were Joseph H. Choate, Jr., who served as chairman of the Executive Committee, and Harrison Tweed, Treasurer. The organization existed to organize like-minded associates, take opinion polls of lawyers across the country, issue bulletins and annual reports reciting arguments against the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and work closely with the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. They stressed that a Repeal Amendment should provide for ratification by state convention and then proceeded to prepare and place before all state governors in February 1933 draft bills providing for election at large of all delegates. The alertness and prestige of the members of the Voluntary Committee of Lawyers contributed to the fact that most states enacted the model convention bill verbatim. When the Twenty-First Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, the Voluntary Committee of Lawyers disbanded.

From the description of Voluntary Committee of Lawyers Repeal Papers, 1927 - 1943. (Wesleyan University). WorldCat record id: 557346044

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Voluntary Committee of Lawyers. Voluntary Committee of Lawyers Repeal Papers, 1927 - 1943. Wesleyan University, Olin Library
referencedIn Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. Records, 1920-1953. Hagley Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. corporateBody
associatedWith Choate, Joseph H., Jr. person
associatedWith Tweed, Harrison. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
Kentucky
United States
North Carolina
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Montana
Missouri
Vermont
Ohio
New York
Texas
Arizona
South Dakota
Utah
Tennessee
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Oregon
Florida
Wisconsin
Nevada
Washington
Maine
Michigan
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
West Virginia
Arkansas
Minnesota
New Mexico
Virginia
Alabama
Colorado
Maryland
Iowa
Subject
Constitutional amendments
Liquor laws
Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition
Temperance
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1927

Active 1943

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