New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
Wilson Must Soon Act on
Bill Making District of
Columbia Arid
FOR LOCAL OPTION,
THE VETS CONTEND
Veto Not Expected, AL
though Washington Will
Have No Referendum
Iron ne rnbuDe Bureau J

days opportunity will come TO Presi-
dent Wilson 70 make official comment
on a subject which In this Congress
has assumed an Importance greater
than pork" and infinitely greater
than national defence-prohibition. The
bill providing for limited aridity in the
District of Columbia is about 20 be
sent 10 the White House. 1t will be
passed by the House Of Representatives
in the form in which it passed the SEN
ate. that is, without making the en-
forcement Of the law contingent upon
the wishes Of the people affected.
As matter Of fact, so determined
are the prohibition leaders TO speed
the bill that the House will knowingly
record itself In error and pass the
measure exactly as il came from the
Senate. although the present form OF
the bill makes the law effective on NO
vember l, 1885, Obviously 1917 was
intended. but correction Of this clerl-
cal error would involve sending the Dill
through the Senate again. The PROM
bitionists fear TO take that chance, lest
somebody start q flibuster. Ihey pre-
Ter 70 stand on the error in the nope
that the courts will correct the palpa-
BILE mistake.
Mr.. Wilson's views are well known,
according to the vets in Congress. lie
is reported TO be strongly IN favor OF
local option in the matter OF prohlol-
ton. But there are very few well-in-
formed persons here who believe that
the President will boldly veto the bill
because il does not provide referen-
dun. The present situation presents
an opportunity for fearless President
TO say something sane about question
which has become a mania IN certain
sections Of the country. The vote on
the referendum proposal in the Senate
Was az to as, and the forty-three Sena-
tors who voted for the referendum rep
resented more than three-quarters OF
the population of the country. There
would be ample reason for veto
should the President care TO take such
action.
Shows Which Way Wind Blows
The passage Of the District of Co
lumbia bill is Of particular impor-
lance in reference to the general sub
iect Of prohibition now so prominently
before the American people, because 10
clearly illustrates that which is threat
ching in the proposed amendment to
The Constitution of the United States.
That amendment, by the way, has been
reported from the judiciary committees
of both houses and probably will come
10 vote before the 4th of March. Sen
ator Jones, Of Washington, said to-day
that he believed the necessary two
thirds majority could be obtained for u
in the Senate. The wish is father TO
the belief in his case, because there IS
still no chance that two-thirds Of either
house will vote for national prohibit
ton. As a matter Of fact, if the mem
bers of both houses voted according to
their beliefs and not according TO their
fears. prohibition would not have a ma
iority. A secret vote would demon
strate that. But the politicians have
been intimidated by the remarkable
prohibition organization which is at
work here and in many state capitals.
The illustration provided by the Dis
trict bill clearly demonstrates that ma
tional prohibition, if il ever does come,
will be imposed on the most populous
states by the least populous states
Once the amendment is adopted by
Congress il will need Affirmative action
10 effective. 1wenty-four states are
now dry or partly dry. The prohibi-
tion organization finds it easier "a
carry its cause through legislature:
than by the votes Of the electorate.
Populous States in Opposition
According 10 the vote in the Senate
on the District bill, the representatives
Of the most populous parts OF the coun
try are against imposing prohibition
on an unwilling Washington. But the
people Of Washington are to have ne
opportunity of saying yes or no. As 2
matter Of fact, there arc exceptions
iu the bill now. For example, mAr
ray import liquors for his persona
use, but as he is forbidden TO give
them away II lie assumed he may not
serve them at table. The President
that Is, may not serve wine to his
guests.
In favor Of the diplomatic corps, how
ever, there is another exception The
law does not apply 70 them. They are
not forbidden to give it away.
Another angle OF the prohibition sub
ject is presented in several bills which
have been proposed 70 deny the use OF
the mails 20 magazines and newspapers
which carry liquor advertisements and
90 circulars, postcards and letters de-
,.gned 20 advertise beer, wine or whis-
ley. Such a bill, affecting prohibition
states only, has already gone through
the Senate and Is expected TO pass the
House. There was practically no oppo-
sltion, and the measure was declared
rassed without a rollcall and without
more than twenty men in the chamber
Supreme Court Aids Drys
The recent declaration Of the Su.
preme Court In favor of the constitu-
tionality of the Webb Kenyon law ha;
been Of marked assistance 70 the pro-
hibition workers who have been busy
lobbying in Congress this winter.
The arguments IN favor OF and
a-uinst prohibition, as stated IN IN.
Vulnerable speeches IN Senate and
House. have not been impressive The
larger part Of them Is based upon sta
tstcs. from which anything may be
proved. The verbal exchanges on both
sides mostly consist ~ giving ones op-
uonent the lie The obvious fact that
AN sumptuary laws require for their
enforcement almost unanimous senti-
ment in n community is never dwelt
upon. The demonstrated fact that u 10
difficult 20 legislate morals Is never
spoken OF.
There is no comparison between the
islative campaigns Of the vets and
the drys That Of the vets has been
almost without exception stupid. As a
matter Of fact, most prohibition laws
lave been written because OF the stu
r'dity OF the brewers and the liquor
dealers. The campaign Of the drys, on
thc other hand. has been extremely ei.
icctiyc.