Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-08
ATTORNEY GENERAL
EXPLAINS OPERATION
OF PROHIBITION LAW
Tells What May Be and What
May Not Be DOne---Judge
McNary's Opinion

The session of the Six O'Clock club
of the First Methodist church last ev
ening was about as lively as a political
caucus, instead. of sedate serious as
sembly, with dinner served, address de-
liveTed and everybody dismissed for
the evening.
When Attorney General Brown began
telling just what certain men could do
and could not do after IL O'Clock, De-
cember 81 of this year, and when Judge
Charles L. McNary was called upon TO
express his opinions on certain phases
of the new prohibition law, the meeting
took on a new life, as every man pres
ent was after information.
From the opinions expressed by each
of the speakers, it is pretty certain
that the ex-saloon man will have a few
privileges left, along with the average
citizen. One of these, is his right to
keep all the intoxicating liquors in his
home that he wants, and his right to
treat his friends. In fact the average
citizen will have this right, and also the
right to drink all he pleases, provided
he does not make public nuisance of
himself.
at will not be an offense to have a
large supply of liquor on hand after
December 31,' said the attorney gen
eral, "but possession of too much,
might be used as evidence that an un-
lawful business was being conducted. :"
A saloon keeper cannot give away
liquor or even treat his friends after
midnight of December 81. That is a
settled fact.
Although the supreme courts of sew
eral states have ruled on the shipping
of liquor from one state into another,
there is nothing in the new law, said
the speaker, to prevent shipments of in
; toxicating liquors into Oregon after
January /, 1916. As to any decision
of the Washington supreme court that
would have no effect on the law in this
state. The new law places limit on
; what a man may receive, and that limit
will be the law of this state, regardless
of decisions of the supreme court OF
I other states.
Druggists will sell intoxicating
liquors at their own peril. When fill
ing prescription, it is up to the drug
gist to know whether the doctor has {
right to prescribe, and when a person
presents prescription to be filled, th'
I druggist must also know whether the
! party ias a legal right to receive thu
I alcohol prescribed. In case party buy
an intoxicant, even on a physician
! prescription, the druggist is liable.
Judge Charles L. McNary expressed
his opinion of the prohibition question
! by, declaring that the new law shoulC
, be success in Oregon, that California
} will fall into line with other prohibi
ton states, and that finally there vii
be national prohibition.
When party wishes a shipmen
made by express, it must be mad
known by affidavit the name of tn
\ carrier, point of delivery, amount to b
received and the amount that has beel
J received during the preceding fou
weeks.
Professor Florian Won Esehen wa
desirous of learning just how deale
\ in sweet cider was TO known when i
became hard cider and contained NOR
than one-half of one per cent Of alcoho
and therefore became unlawful 10 re
tail. The general opinion was that j
was up to the dealer to now whethe
he was violating the law.
"There are enough guilty men t
prosecute, and there will be no nee
1t of going after men who accidental
Is violate the law,' was the opinion O
ID the attorney general as to whether
m man was in danger who might acciden
K ally overstep the bounds
t. The dinner was served by the Luc
20 Ann Lee Circle of the First Me;hot
g church. The next meeting of the
r, 0 'clock club will be held January
es when Prof. Florian Won Eschen WI
m speak on "The Soils of Oregon"
IL, |