The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-21
United States Going Dry Rap
idly; Dominion Of Canda
Almost Dry.
FRENCH GOVERNMENT
,, NOW COMES FORWARD
Premier Says Prohibition of
Spirits and All Liquors but
Wine and Beer Will be Rule
Hereafter In Nation.

Wcsterville. Ohio. Dec. 20.-These
are the days when 1t is popular to
throw stones at John Barleycorn. n
the language of the street. "he is get
ting his"
Territory in the United States. az
sregating IS per cent OF the total
before the House Of Representatives
the resolution for q national prohihi-
uon amendment. that resolution hav-
Ing been reported out by the judiciary
committee with recommendation that
1t be adopted. Whether or not the
drys can be mustered the necessary
two-thirds vote remains to be seen.
When the Hobson resolution was up
the drys had a numerical majority
In the House. 1t II certain now that
whether or not they can muster the
necessary two-thirds vote. they can,
At least increase the numerical ma
5ority At this session.
Favorable consideration also il
being g1vsn the Sheppard bill for
prohibition In the District OF Column
bia- Tho bin - before the Senate. Led
by Senator Underwood, there is an
opposition to the bill which seeks to
submit the measure to a referendum
OF the people Of the District 1t is be-
iieved the Underwood forces will be
defeated. If so. the bill will become
the House and Senate il deemed GER
tain
Americas nearest neighbor. Can
ada. Is all dry except a portion Of the
province Of Quebec. The province of
Yukon. which Is not part Of the Do
minion. though sometimes erroneous
~ so classed. came within three votes
OF going dry. The province Of sas-
katchewan the other day abolish ed
even its government dispensaries. by
vote OF almost ten to one.
Across the Water.
Looking across the water the tenn
parAnce forces are greatly encour-
axsd by what has happened In re-
form lines since the great war
began. Early in that war Russia be-
came q prohibition nation. France.
Germany. England. even ITALY.
adopted restrictive measures. These
restrictions have been increased as
the war progressed. Tho German
added to restrictions on the hours OF
liquor selling. The program of
Lloyd George. new premier OF Eng
land. which would have been ma de
effective ere this except for the III
ness of the premier. IL expected to
recommend near-prohibition. and 1t
II regarded a. not improbable that
Lloyd George will urge total prohi-
bition during the wars continuance.
Personally. he has long been in favor
OF this course As q means OF tncreas-
ing national efficiency. Now that the
food question has reached an acute
stage, he 10 said to favor prohibition
A. means Of conserving food sup
plies.
Absolute prohibition OF tho con-
sumption Of spirits except incidentally
and of restrictions on the beer trade,
are on the program. The whole re-
sources Of the spirit trade will be put
under State trial early in the new
year. and the accumulated stocks d.
verted to other purposes.
The manufacture OF whiskey and
gin will b absolutely prohibited.
The northern countries OF Europe
are almost totally dry. Australia Is
not without its dry areas,
Now comes q dispatch from Paris
which announces that total prohibit
ton OF the consumption Of such al
coholic beverages as whiskies. bran
dies and liquors has been decided on
by the government. This Is shown
by the text in the Journal Omcial OF
Premier BRANDS declaration before
the chamber Of deputies on the sub
jsct. The premier said:
'"rhs government win ask you to
give II the faculty Of solving BY de-
rees al questions Of interest In re-
gard to the national defense which
the laws are slow to regulate. A
particularly grave question which can
b regulated only in war time, the
solution OF which involves the life OF
the country and Its salvation. IL the
total suppression OF the consumption
Of aloohol."
Gsesead Wlth Applause.
The premisr's remarks were greet
Cd with loud applause from many OF
the benches. Deputy Mayeras inter
tected: I'm the army Also"
Yea ha-antira- country. said
the premier.
The use Of the term alcohol In
this connection II understood in
France 70 include such beverages an
absinthe. which already has been
suppressed; WHISTLES. brandies and
ltQuors, but not wines or beer.