Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-06-29
PRESIDENT ASKS
SENATE TO KILL
DRY AMENDMENT
Sends Word to Senator's Fight
May Result In Holding Up
Food Control
PRO-BEER SENTIMENT
IN COUNTRY is STRONG
In Addition to Question Of
Emergency That of Revenue
Bears Weight

Washington, June 29.-President Will
son personally acted today to modify
the prohibition fight in the senate and
end debate on the flood control bill.
He sent word to members of the SEN
ate that turmoil arising about the west
and dry fight threatened to hold up
| passage of the food bill a month or
more. This, he said, might prove dis
lastrous
| Very much exercised at the conse-
quences of jammirig through at the
present time q drastic prohibition meas
ure which would constitute, as he be-
lieves, a blow against personal liberty
in the country, the president today is
! endeavoring to force compromise of
the senate dry amendment so that dis
titled spirits alone will be stopped
The position of the president is re-
| liably stated to be:
That peremrtory action by congress-,
abruptly stopping manufacture of all
! intoxicants would create uncertainty I'M
business generally situation which
would not be in the best interest of
the country now.
| At time when the young men of the
country are Icing called upon to make
great sacrifices, as.1low against their
personal liberty might result in a spirit
of antagonisn which might seriously
jeopardize war work.
Revenue Feature.
| In addition, the question of emerg-
ency revenue enters into the problem.
AS evidence of the effect prohibition
might have, administration leaders point
to the strike of metal workers at Bay
onne, N. j., because they were deprived
of their beer
The president conferred yesterday
with Senator Phelan and talked today
with Senators Gerry and Martin, demo-
cratic floor leaders, urging modifica-
tion of the dry amendments as reported
from the senate agriculture committee.
1t is understood to be the president Is
opinion that if the prohibition amend
ment is left in the bill as it is, there
is not a chance of food control follow
ing for at least a month.
The president personally feels, it is
said. that the whole amendment should
be eliminated in order to facilitate
passage of the food bill. The overwhelm-
| ing sentiment in favor Of abolishing
spirits manufacture, however, has con
yinced him that that much, at least, of
the prohibition section of the bill can
be and will be passed quickly.
Shortly after Martin and Gerry left
the White House Senator Lewis, Him
ois, democrat whip, introduced bill in
the senate designed to be substitute
for the "dry" amendment to the food
measure. It provides for the prohibition
of spirits production or any intoxieant
containing more than 10 per cent alco-
hol.
Chamberlain. in charge of the bill,
deyeloped a strong sentiment on both
sides of the chamber for quick action
on il today when he moved for vote
tomorrow afternoon. A motion by Hard
wick TO recommit the bill to the agricul-
ture committee was overwhelmingly de-
feated emphasizing the sentiment for
quick vote.
Strong antipathy developed in debate
today to exempting farmers from anth'
ority by the president to requisliloh
food materials on farms. Senators Hard
wick and Borah led in the attack on
this feature Of the food control bill.
Whiskey is doomed. The attitude OF
foremost senators makes this outcome
inevitable. Meantime, there has been
a marked change Of sentiment IN the
house and when the food bill goes to
conference with the prohibition clause
modified. it is believed the house CON
ferees will not insist on a bone dry sec
tion.
If. however, congress does what now
appears impossible and votes absolute
prohibition, it is believed President
wilson would veto the bill on. the
ground that such a measure would not
bc In the best interest of the public at
this time.
A great sympathy for beer and wine
has developed in the nation Literally
thousands of letters and kilograms 10
senator's show a preponderance for pro-
beer sentiment. Church organizations,
boweyer. continue their active work for
complete prohibition. There are re"
hind words for distilled spirits.
United with the senate drys favor, /
inc continuance of wine and beer viii
he democrats and republicans who have
sweItered over the war tax bill in com
mittee for weeks in devising means TO
raise revenue Most active of these are
senator Lodge, who has opposed inelud- |
ing beer and wines in the prohibition