The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-14

low the food bill to pass unless the
prohibition of the manufacture of
beer and wine was stricken from the
bill These threats were not made
privately. but they were made openly
and to those in charge of the legisia-
tion of the senate, and they were com
municated to the president OF the
United states The harvest season
had already begun in some sections
and was rapidly approaching in the
great grain growing states, The
president felt that the immediate
passage of the bill was vital for the
successful prosecution of the war. He
called the lea ders of the senate into
council and was told by them that 1t
was useless to appeal to the patriotism
OF the friends of the breweries and
wineries, that they had blatantly and
bra zenly declared that they would de-
feat the passage of any food bill
which contained any prohibition Of
the manufacture of wine and beer.
thus practically admitting that their
allegiance to wine and beer was
greater than their allegiance to tho
country.
While fully satisfied of the righte-
BUSINESS OF their cause and of the great
i'm portance of the prohibition legis-
BaNibI ptppoSbu ~ hSit f'tfiAA NaiV
legislative committee Of the league
finally wrote the president that 1t was
fully aware OF the threats made by
tho friends of beer and wine in the
senate of an indefinite and protracted
ffhouster against those provisions OF
the bill The committee assured the
president that as patriotic Americans
determined 10 uphold him as COM
msnder In chief of the army and navy
IL would not, for its constituency, offer
any obstruction to the passage OF the
food bill, but that the committee
would urge such legislation at the
earliest possible date. either TN the
form OF a separate bill or In con-
nection with other war legislation.
The bill, therefore. finally passed
the senate containing the pro-
hfbition Of the manufacture Of
foodstufs into distilled spirits only for
beverage purposes The bill then
went to the conference committee.
where II was finally amended so as
to prohibit the manufacture OF dis
titled spirits for beverage purposes
after September and gave 70 the
president authority to prohibit the
manufa cture Of feodsturfs into beer
and wine whenever in his Judgment
the interests of tho nation require II.
So on September y every distillery
in the United States was closed down,
please God. 0pver to be opened again
in our county
The reply OF the legislative com
mittee of the Anti Saloon lea que had
so commended itself to the senate OF
the United States that the day after
It's reply 10 the president several soma
tors announced their intention Of vot-
ing for the resolution to submit the
When the time arrived. therefore. for
/ tho vote on the resolution in the
senate. the legislative committee was
satisfied that II had ma ny more than
the required two-thirds majority vote
and so il proved to he, When the vote
was finally taken instead of being
two to one In favor OF the resolution,
the resolution was adopted by a vote
of three TO ore, e5 10 20. senator sf-
ter senator who had been regarded as
doubtful voting for the submission
resolution.
With the passage Of the submission
resolution by the senate legislation
came practically to an end during the
extra session OF congress. 1t was
rea lied that conditions were such
that it would not be wise to press for
a vote on the resolution at that time
in the house, Of representatives., and
snE i1otfse 20 -postp6ne tfae matter arr :
I'll the beginning of the regular ses-
sion of congress.
The regular session of congress be
gan on Monday. December :. and
already the committee on the judi
ciary has reported the resolution fav-
orahly by three fourths vote OF Is
10 8, and the house has fixed Mon
day, December IL. as the date for
the consideration of the resolution.
May the three-fourths vote of the
committee he an indication Of the vote
In the House Itself.
Let IL not be omitted that congress
during the year has passed a prohi-
/ bltion law for Alaska and an enabl-
ing act calling for a prohibition cleo
Etion In the island of Porto Rico. which
election was held and resulted in q
great prohibition victory.
While rejoicing In the magnificent
results already achieved during the
past year. the prohibition forces real
ize that they must not sleep on their
arms, but must press the warfare with
ever-increasing vigor until the last
stronghold OF the enemy has been
swept away. There are three matters
of outstanding Importance:
l. The passage by the house of rep
lresentntives Of the resolution TO submit
the constitutional prohibition amend
ment. When the submission resolution
for national prohibition has been
passed by the house of representa-
tives. it wlll.he necessary for il to he
ratified by thirty-six states. The
methods and plans to accomplish this
result are being carefully considered.
and the work which has been center
ed so largely upon congress for the
past few years Will be transferred
to the several states. II Is exceeding
~ important that "a thorough organi-
cation OF the prohibition forces be
maintained, not only in the wet"
but also in the dry" states. in order
that there may be speedy favorable
action upon the resolution.
2. While prohibition workers are
loyal to the government and are Civ
ing all possible cooperation in carry
ing out plans for the conservation of
foodstuffs and other needed supplies,
Yet they express most emphat.cally
their opinion that the welfare OF the
country demands the complete abon-
ton of the use OF foodstuffs in the
manufacture OF beer and wine as
we'll as in the manufacture of spiritu-
GUS liquors. The responsibility for
further manufacture OF intoXicants
rests with the president OF the United
States. All prohihitionists should re-