The Washington times., 1915-04-24

Peoria. Mr.. Morrison isn't worrying
himself about the investments In brew
cries and dstilleries now In existence,
which live by selling their products In
interstate commerce. He proposes that
every State shall be utterly and abso-
lutely a law unto itself as to the man
ufacture. the sale. the use Of every
thing alcoholic.
But Mr.. Morrison thinks this is the
measure that will settle the country's
problem.
The Webb Kenyon law governing in
terstate traffic in liquors from wet 70
Gated" he said. "but in my opinion 1t
will finally be rendered ineffective by
the courts. 1t Is necessary to make
every State entirely law unto itself
Why, the Supreme Court recently held
In case from Leavenworth that a
man could establish himself on the wet
side of a State line, receive orders from
the dry side. and then fill them by haul
Ing his liquors over to customers on
the dry side: and that business could
that. handling his business from the
Missouri side OF the line, and delivering
the goods by wagon to the people In
Leavenworth, on the wet side; and the
court sustains him. 1t was explained
that the Webb Kenyon bill had not
passed when this case originated, and
so the decision does not relate to the
state. Of facts since that law. was In
eHecI. But In nv Op1fllOI, anu lIldt VI
many other lawyers, that law would not
change the situation
Would Hit Industries.
Under the Morrison, proposition, the
established industries would be hit
about as hard as under absolute prohi-
bition, apparently: the grape growers
and wine makers Of California and Ohio
would have to convert the people of
their respective states to the use OF
wines, or else go out of business. The
brewers in Milwaukee and all the other
brewing centers could be shut off from
business in other States than that In
which the manufacture was carried on.
No matter: Mr.. Morrison thinks hrs
plan is right 1t would put the matter
a home Industry of the liquor business
In every State. II that state wanted
such an industry. and II has one big
not failed to recognize 1t could De
enacted INTO a law, II Mr.. Morrison IL
right and be enforced. without con-
stitutional amendment. Ihat Is why ne
is going to introduce the pr9posltlon
both as bill and as constitutional amend
ment resolution.
"This is question of policy thai
ought to be settled finally. in more
permanent way than any xa,n,rsd Law OF Cen %r
Morrison. "If there were merely law
| every Congress would be elected largely
! on the issue of continuing or repeaiint
| that law and the whole national polltl
| cal situation would turn on that issue
What must be had. II the issue Is no
! to be forever in politics. is to have tn.
measure written into the Constitution.
Fight To Be Resumed.
| Despite Mr. Morrison's conviction tina
he has the right settlement for tn
question. the anti-saloon forces are go
ing ahead with their own plan. 1t Il
not known who will succeed Richmont
| Pearson Hobson as leader of the figh
| In the House, now that Hobson is ou
| of Congress. But the fight will be re
! sumed early and pushed hard.
| There have been intimations latel
! that the ''drys" have something up thei
sleeve, in the way of a scheme for ma
| tional prohibition by law instead o
| Constitutional amendment. The theor
| Is that the commerce clause of the Con
stitution. which has been stretched t
| cover child labor. meat inspection pur
| food and various other kinds of legis
lation, can be stretched far enough t
make the whole liquor business ques
ton of interstate commerce. and prac
tically II not nominally, put an end
| the business. The point In favor of sue
| a project is that 1t would require onl
| a majority instead of two-thirds ma
| jority in both houses. The suggestio
has been broadly put out lately. tha
Constitutional amendment, 1t may hav
this kind of a bill put up to it, whic
| would make the situation much NOR
dangerous for the liquor forces, an
would greatly add to the embarrass
ment of statesmen called to vote on it.