Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-12
The aFoed Control" speetaeIs.


seemed likely to act, to sweep the
whole booze list by the board. was on
the excuse that time was precious and
the delay Of debate could be avoided
by letting the booze Interests have
their own way.
That was many days ago and the
end is not yet. nor does 1t now seem
possible so long as a vestige is left OF
the moral purpose. Of increased ma
tional efficiency. or Of saving the
countrys food supply. II the prchtoi-
ton features are entirely stripped from
rhe food control bill. It can be passed,
otherwise the booze control" Of the
government will hold up the demand of
the people.
The date fixed by Senate agreement
for vote on this urgent" war measure
is five weeks after its submission to
Congress. Mr.. Hoovcr's warning Of
impending disaster to producers and
public does not soften the hearts Of
the booze interests. They are in full
realization Of their advantage. And
they pretend that the delay is caused
by prohibition ranks. which is lie,
malicious and deliberate
Concerning that proposition the
Springfield Republican says:
The attacks that have been made
on war prohibitionists and temperance
propa gandists for "mussing up'' the
food control legislation have been
pushed TO absurd extremes. That al
coholic liquors were germane to this
legislation was virtually admitted by
the administration, which drafted the
original Lever bill, for in. that draft
was clause authorizing the president,
in his discretion, to stop the dfstilling
or the brewing of alcoholic drinks, or
TO regulate the amount Of their pro-
duction. The subject was thus IRE.
scented to Congress as part Of the orig
mai measure and the so-called prol1i-
oltlon fight was merely the natural
ana legitimate development the ad-
ministration's own proposals A rea-
sonable solution is still in sight on the
basis of the compromise advocated by
the president. To insist that finan-
cial difficulties are in the way does
not seem reasonable, in view Of the
/ enormous borrowing power of our
government and the achievements
credited to other countries in this line
Since the European war Began
Russia under the car sacrificed a
considerable Part of its revenue by
prohibiting the vndka trade. France
made permanent the prohibition OF alb
s!nthe. In Great Britain practically no
spirits are being manufactured for
drinking purposes. and nearly al: OF
1 the distilleries are rat work TO-, the
/ british government producing war ne
ccssities. These acts of foreign gov
ernments prove conclusively that,
! while absolute prohibition may be I'M
| wise. the drastic limita ton Of the pro
ductlon of spirits, or the bevera gee
/ containing high percentages Of alco-
| hol which were heavily taxed in peace
time, is war measure fully sane
toned by experience in the countries
where the war has been in progress
for three years.
| The whisky prohibition clauses of
the food control bill, in the light of
these facts, are germane to the meas
ure both because they concern the food
! supply and because they embody war
| policy Of social invigoration for the
nation which foreign experience has
sanctioned IN spite Of the revenue re-
adjustments which they may necessi-
tate If the food control bill has been
! bedeviled, il has been the work Of
partisan rarplots or selfish reaction
airy besotted interests more concerned
! to safeguard certain investments than
| to promote forward looking policy in
prosecuting the war;
4 OF the general muddle which Senate
concessions to the liquor interests
have brought about, the Republican
| says:
The Senate is presumed to be more
careful than the House in the draft
ing of bills: its function is often de-
scribed as pre- eminently that Of re-
vision. Yet if the criticism is sound
that the Smoot whisky amendment to
the food control bill is unoonstitu-
tinai. the Senate has certainly
/ WI hSd ltSSll lulO Oh eAlTAOIllH1Iy
snarl. The reproach Of unconstitu-
tionality could be removed quickly by
another amendment providing that
| the compensation to be given by the
| government to the owners of whisky
in bond, Communicated by the presi-
dent, SHOULD be fixed by the courts
instead of by act of Congress on an
| arbitrary basis; but the latest com
| plication is naturally seized upon by
the opponents of the food bill to evolve
fresh agonies of delay out of the par
(, liamentary situation. While unani-
nous consent for a final vote on ths
2lst has been secured, the bill cannoe
now become law much before Au-
, gust l.
There is no evidence to prove that
the present difficulties Of this MEAS
ure are the work Of the dabolieal
prohihitionists. The representatives OF
the anti saloon league over a week
ago accepted, out of difference to the
president, a compromise under which
whisky should no longer be produced
during the war. while wine and beer
should not be placed under the ban
| The prohibitionists are not to blame
for loading up" the bill with the
amendments providing for govern
ment regulation Of steel. iron, cotton,