The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-01-11
Webb-Kenyon Law Is Declared
Valid by Highest U. S. Court

Washington, Jan. 8-The Webb-Ken-
yon law, designed to prevent liquor
shipments from wet to dry states,
was today declared constitutional by
the United States supreme court by q
vote of to 2, which also upheld West
Virginia's prohibition amendment pro-
hibiting citizens from receiving liquor
for personal use shipped by common
carriers in interstate commerce.
It was announced that Justice. James
c. McReynolds concurred in the decis-
ion but not completely in the opinion.
Justice Oliver w. Holmes and Willis
Van Deventer were the two dissenting
justices.
"The all reaching power of govern
ment over liquor is settled" said Chief
Justice Edward D. White, late today, in
announcing the United States SUI
preme court decision upholding the
constitutionality of the Webb-Kenyou
law. There was no intention of con-
gress to forbid individual use of liquor.
The purpose Of this act was to cut out
by the roots the practise Of permitting
violation of state liquor laws. We
can have no doubt that congress has
complete authority to prevent para
lying of state authority. Congress
exerted a power to coordinate the ma
tional with the state authority"
Attorneys for national liquor organi-
cations who were in court said the de"
cision upholds and applies the Webb
Kenyon law "in it's broadest sense"
Wayne E. B. Wheeler, counsel for
the Anti-saloon League of America,
who, with Fred Blue, state prohibi-
tion commissioner of West Virginia,
argued the case before the court, made
this statement on the courts decision:
''The states now may prohibit the
possession, receipt, sale and use of in
toXicating liquor and not be hampered
by the agencies Of interstate COM
merce.
Minneapolis Liquor Men Will Con-
tinue Shipping
Minneapolis, Jan. 9.-MinneapOlis
will continue to ship liquor into North
Dakota. Iowa and other nearby dry
states, it was said today, notWithstand~
ing the United States supreme court
decision of yesterday that the Webb
Kenyon law, prohibiting liquor ship
ments into dry territory, is constitu-
tional
w. G.. Calderwood, of the state pro-
hibition committee, pronounced the ac'
tion af the supreme court important
beyond anything of recent develop
ment. Managers of wholesale liquor
firms that do shipping business into
dry states said that there would be no
difference at all. .., v,s+
"We will ship just as much as ever"
said one, manager, =" and that means
about as much as before there were
dry states. It is up to the states that
liquor goes into to stop it. We will
keep right on shipping to people that
want it."
Watkins Says LANCER viii Clean Up
Booze in State
jamestown, Jan. 8.-Supt. Watkins
Of the State Enforcement League spent
the day in Jamestown on business con-
Attorney General LANCER has express
ed himself determined to clean up tho
state of all violators of the prohibition
law and that he has demonstrated tho
fact that he is no respector Of persons.
Mr.. Watkins says that last October
but So government licenses were held
in the state, outside of those drug
stores which handle the liquor for
medical purposes OF the So a dozen
are held by clubs in the state and the
remainder are mostly held by blind
piggers The holding of the licenses
by clubs is given by Mr.. Watkins as
indication that the government officials
assigned to their territory are lax in
enforcement of the law.