New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-07
peer and Wine
Not Prohibited
NV Forces Jubilant, How
ever, at Prospect of Stop
ping Sale of Whiskey
By c. w. Gilbert


s, were voting for it in the Senate
,.srted. Just as It seemed about
!. ,,riyc for good and all, it was pro-
nod in spite of the agreement to
u,,b a vote to-day, that recess be
,.k,n until II o'clock tomorrow morn
:, IN order. it was explained, to get
q. various amendments suggested and
,aon,.d printed. $50 as to give the Sen
,,.rs a chance to read them
No one objected. Sometime in the
.,,b.s of the night something will be
,,,. for whiskey. It won't be much, If
e,.may judge from the temper of the
Senate.
II I. safe to say that there won't be
nv rhiskey or strong drink msnufact-
,,,d or imported for the duration Of
he war. Whether any will be drunk
.ttsr the small supply the saloons may
have on hand is sold-may be put up
to-but 10 whom would you suppose 1t
vould be put UP, after listening to all
The Senate has had TO say about auto
cratic powers since II began to debate
the food bill, trembling over the con-
e.ntrstion Of authority proposed in that
measure? Why, to the President, Of
course.
Reeds Quick Shift
II any one is TO have authority to
permit the sale Of strong drinks it will
b. the "autocrat" at the White House,
and il is characteristic of the sincerity
Of the talk that is heard in Congress
,hs, to Senator "Jim" Reeds mind the
IDEA Of holding out little hope for
whisksy in the shape of a Presidential
authorization occurred. Reed has been
loudest in his denunciation of the con-
centrstiOn of power proposed in the
food bill.
The Cummins amendment had passed
twice, in two different forms, as the
.xigeneies Of parliamentary procedure
required. Senator Cummins is pro-
hibltionis., and Ne doesn't care who
knows il. His amendment forbade the
withdrawal from bond during the
period Of the war Of the distilled
liquors now thus stored and also the
Importation Of the same kind Of
liquors during the same period. This
would have stopped the sale as well
as the making Of whiskey.
The first time it passed 1t looked as
Il several Senator'S were voting for It
as dead weight proposition which
would prove too heavy for the whole
anti-whisksy proposal TO carry. The
second time, they voted more carefully,
bu. it still had the votes. 1t was at
this moment that Senator Reed had
his happy and so consistent inspira-
ton. And then his colleague, Senator
Stone, who had been threatening 10
ilbuster, saw chance and proposed
recess.
The chance apparently was this: 70
mite the conservatives who would NOT
TX. TO see whiskey irrevocably Sc
suss,ered in warehouses and, accord
ngly, much as they hate and fear auto
''s'ie power, would like to grant the
resident authority to permit its with
travail whenever the public interest
cay in bis judgment so require, and
ne radicals, who would like to see the
resident granted authority to throt-
ue beer whenever he may see fit.
Beer and Wine Saved
For the prohibitionists did not have
H'ir own way with beer and wine. II
s'' voted decisively not to forbid the
A' Of foodstufs in making these two
A'dly alcoholic beverages. Where
'Ss' Hr. Cummins had expressed the
i:ps that Secuon 12, wnen finally
nop'ed, would leave this question Of
,neo conservation in the hands OF the
..t'hosnt, who might gradually water
as nations beer until IL ultimately
.eesns as innocuous as the bottled
p'eouee Of famous springs. Therefore,
good guess that both whisky
la beer will finally be put up TO the
s's'icent, unless he refuses the re-
spentibility.
20 me biggest social reform any ma
W except Russia has undergone as a
t.N o. the war. Other countries
i"s SlLed Of prohibition, notably Eng
SO but although she is more severely
.t,"ed Tor food than this country is,
,hs not yet adopted IL. She will be
,I-1 strong compulsion now as our
hd dependent upon Us for grains.
,,,s'uid be fine thing 70 say that this
s'h was taking this step, moved by
80 'pft-a step as big as copscrip-
s..' hoeed, In a social way a bigger
~. ior no one here seriously believes
one. whiskey drinking II stopped
eontequence Of the law now pass
will ever be permitted again
r.f - not quite true or fair 20 say IL.
motives are mixed
Increment that was coming anvway
IN eeen hurried By the war. Still, II
h1f thsiloWness and inEincerity and
a. gIieism are allowed for, n biz bulk
.s,ife % conServe food and labor
.Hls great world crisis remains.
kNs' u men who were talking
g.y cf property rights yeste rdAy and
), ns danger Of disUniting our people
INrenng with their drink would
ave 70 be working hard to-nixh,