Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-30
FIGHT ABOUT WON
TO SAVE j. S. BEER
Anti Saloon League Officials,
Answering President. Prom
Use to Keep Hands OFF.
PROHIBITION FORCES YIELD

stStiOtI ISN ! 0nSIS tIIeO
The fight to continue the manufac-
ture. for the present. at least. OF beer
and wine. which has been waging be-
fore Congress for several days was
today regarded as won. The prohibi-
tion forces in Congress. it was said,
would yield to the demand Of the Pres
ident that the food control bill be
amended SO as not to force the issue
over beer and wine at this time
The officials of the anti-saloon league,
10 Whom the President appealed yester-
day In letter not to seek to force the
prohioition of the manufacture OF beer
and wine at this time, saving that he
deemed II of vital importance to have the
FOOD control bill passed without delay,
had another conference at their head
quarters in the Bliss building today. and
drafted further reply to the Presi-
dent.
In this final reply. it is understood. tho
league announced It's intention OF keen
ing its hands on and allowing Congress
TO take whatever action it saw fit in re-
gard to the beer and wine question
Senator Gore Has Amendment.
Senator Gore of Oklahoma. chairman
X
prepared an amendment to the prohibi-
tion provision of the bill. which would
prevent absolutely the use of foodstuffs
In the manufacture of distilled spirits,
but would leave il in the hands of the
President to stop the manufacture of
beer and wine in the future, IL he
should hnd that the conservation of
the food supply demanded such action.
This amendment. however. does not
meet the approval of some of the pro-
hibition senators. who prefer to have
Congress say there shall be no beer
and wine manufactured, or to leave out
the prohibition of the manufacture of
those beverages altogether.
Presidents Appeal Needed.
When the Senate took a recess last
evening there was a general UNDER
standing that the food control bill
would be SO amended as not to pro-
hibit the continued manufacture of
beer and wine, but that distilled spirits
were doomed.
The appeal of the President to elimi-
nate the fight over beer in order to get
speedy action on the food control bill.
as a war measure. had had its effect,
II was admitted. Prohibition senators
on the democratic side of the chamber
and some Of them on the republican
side: were impressed with the Presi-
dents request.
There were some of the prohibition
senators. however. including Jones OF
Washington and Gronna Of North
Dakota. who were not pleased with the
action OF the President. and who
threatened to discuss the prohibitfon
qHestioH At some length when that sec
tion OF The bin IL reached.
In addition to calling in Senate lead
ers to discuss the question of speed
ing up the food control bill and elfmi-
mating the fight over beer for that
purpose, President Wilson exchanged
letters with the Rev. DR.. James Can
non, chairman Of the National Anti-Sa-
loon Leagues legislative committee.
Immediate Passage Vital. .
In his letter to Dr. Cannon the Presi-
leader, had asked him to express his
views on the -food-liquor legislation
regarding "the wisest and most pa
triotic policy to be pursued" and added:
II regard the immediate passage OF
the bill as of vital consequence to the
safety and defense of the nation. Time
Is of the essence. and yet it has be-
come evident that heated and pro-
of the bill indefinitely IL the pro:
visions affecting the manufacture of
beer and wines are retained and in
sisted upon. In these circumstances
have not hesitated to say to members
of the Senate who have been kind
enough to consult me that it would
Undoubtedly be in the public interest
in this very critical matter il the
friends of those provisions should con-
sent to their elimination from the
present measure. Feeling that your
committee is actuated by the same pa
triotic motives which inspires me, 1 am
confident that these considerations will
seem to you, as they seem to me. to be
imperative"
Anti-Saloon League representatives
last night replied that. while re-
cognizing 'the force of any appeal
from the President and comma nder-in-
chief of the army and navy in time
of war" a definite answer would be
deferred until after conference with
prohibition leaders in the Senate and
House.
Informal Agreement Reached.
Informal agreement, however. was
reached by those of the prohibition
forces in the Senate for virtual aban-
donment of the fight to include beer
and wines in the liquor, legislation.
Their future efforts, it appeared prob
able, would be directed to securing
an amendment authorizing the Presi-
dent to suspend manufacture of malt,
fermented and vinous beverages in his
discretion.
House leaders predicted that body
would accede to the Presidents desire
to beer and wines.
Discussion of committee amendments
to the bill was begun late Yesterday
and without a roll call the Senate re-
jected an amendment BY Senator Smith
of Arizona to add news print paper
and its products to articles over which
government control is proposed. He
said the publishers would. by federal
supervision. receive print paper at rea-
sonable rates Senator Borah and
others declared that extension of con-
troll to paper products" threatened un-
limited government censorship of the
press.
Control Over Fertilizers.
The Senate added fertilizer ingredi-
ents. upon motion of Senator Smith of
South Carolina. to the list of products
over which federal power shall ex-
tend. Senator King of Utah gave no.
tice of a motion to strike copper from
the list. while other senator's propose
amendments extending control to cot
ton. clothing. leather and many other
articles.
In speech assailing prohibition
TO the in