The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-23
"BONE Dry PROHIBITION
TAKES LONG STEP AHEAD
Three Hundred and Nineteen 10 Sew
enty-two in Favor of Item Prohibit
ing Importations of Liquor Into
States Which Have Forbid Sale.

wv washington, r Gu. A1-<aoSOfuI0
! prohibition legislation took its long
est forward stride in the nations
history- today Nlen the house after
two hours OF uproarous debate, ap-
proved by four to one majority q
senate measure which would raise an
| IRON clad barrier against lmtortation
of liquor into prohibition States. IL
is expected to receive the approval
of President Wilson within a week.
, adding Immediately to the "bone-dry'
territory about one-third of continen-
ual United States.
The provision is regarded as the
most far reaching that could be en-
acted by the federal government ana
as sweeping as would be possible un-
der any method short of national
prohibition amendment.
It would cut Off entirely liquor i'm
portation, amounting now to millions
OF dollars annually, into the large
! number of States which have forbid
den manufacture or sale but have per-
mitted importation for personal use.
Division Within Wings.
| Advocates OF prohibition divided
among themselves over the exper1-
ency of the step, some friends of the
cause declaring so drastic a law would
| have reactionary effect. In the
same way those who have opposed
prohibition we're not unanimous In
| opposition when the vote Was taken.
The RON call brought cries of "bore
dry" from all parts Of the house, how
ever, and the result was greeted with
a noisy demonstration.
The vote as officially announced
was 321 to T2, but recheck OF tina
roll changed it to 319 to y. Party
lines were completely broken down
and numerous representatives from
| prohibition States were recorded in
| the negative. So large a vote seldom
is recorded on any measure.
A provision barring liquor adyer-
! t;sements from the mails in States
! that prohibit such advertising is In
cluded in the measure, which came
before the house as a rider to the an
nual postoffice appropriation bill, IT.
serted by the senate last week pn
motion OF Senator Reed by vote or
! 50 to II.
Little Chance Of ChaDce.
Although the appropriation Till VIII
20 TO conference because the house
! disagreed to other senate amendments
there is little possibility that the pro
! hibition amendment, concurred IN
without change will be altered. Mem
bers of congress are taking it for
granted that President Wilson will ap-
! prove it.
Although some members have giEeE
it as Their opinion that the legislative
! features added to the postal bill Woufe
not be affective until July |, the er-
fective date of the appropriations It
carries, senators and representatives
who are considered authorities safu
tonight that all the legislative riders,
| including the Reed prohibition amend
ment undoubtedly would become
operative as soon as the president has
signed the measure.
Dry advocates were jubilant tonight.
Representative Webb of North Caro-
!. lima, father of the resolution for
national prohibition amendment, de-
clared the overwhelming affirmative
vote has killed the State rights arsu-
ment and that the national amend
ment, already reported favoraply, GER
tainly would pass the house at this
session. The national legislative cunl-
mittee of the Anti-Saloon league is
/ sued a statement saying todays ac-
ton had cleared the decks" for ma
tional amendment.
Brewers Seemed Pleased.
Many of the wet advocates in cUn-
gress, particularly those with brew
ers among their constituents, also de-
clared themselves much pleased with
| the outcome. The brewers are Under"
stood to have been in favor OF the pro-
vision both because it would curtail
| the socalled mail business carried b.
houses dealing in spirituous liquors
| and because it might prevent States
;; now wet from going dry and indetl-
nitely postpone nationwide prohibl-
| ton.
Distillers and whiskey dealers, on
the other hand, were vigorously op-
posed to the proposal. There are at
this time, Representative Sherley OF
! Kentucky declared during debate
more than 22s 900, 900 gallons OF liquor
in bend in the United States and ~
| per cent of such liquor heretofore
has been sold in partially dry terri
! tory. Under the amendment con-
| Cured in today, all of this must be
sold in absolutely wet territory, prob
ably, he argned, at great loss. Mp.
Sherley made a futile attempt to
! amend tho r1roposal by extending the