The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-02-24
PROHIBITION BILL
ENACTED INTO LAW,
Bone Dry Measure Passes Lower House
With Big Majority Favoring It.
Congress Forbids Importation of Liquor States Which
Have Forbidden the Sale of Liquor and Great Steo To-
wards National Prohlbiton-Vote was 3l9 For and u
Against Reed Amendment

Washington, Feb. 21.--Aosolute
prohibition legislation took its l6ng-
est forward stride in tho nations
history today when The house. after
two hours of uproarous debate, Jap
proved by q four to ne majority u
senate measure which would raise an
iron clad barrier against importation
of liquor into prohibition States.f 1t
lis expected to receive the approval
of President Wilson within week,
adding Immediately to the bone dry
territory about one-third Of conti4en-
tai United States
. The provision IS regarded asslthe
most far reaching that could be3en-
acted by the federal government hnd
as sweeping as would be possible un-
der any method short OF O natl3nal
prohibition amendment III
1t would cut off entirely liquor1n-
portations, amounting now to mill pms
of dollars annually, into tho ltfge
number of States which have for1 1id-
den manufacture or sale but have, er-
mitted importation for personal se
Advocates Of prohibition diS led
among themselves over the exj li-
cncy of the step, some friends Q he
cause declaring SO drastic a law la
have reactionary' effect. Isit be
same way those who have dt la
prohibition were not ,inanirn{ b
opposition when the vote waS d.
The roll gcall brought cries n Is
.s1tssss4 = =
and tho result was greeted with a
noisy demonstration
The vote as officially announced
was 321 to ~, but renheck of the
roll changed it to S13 to ~. 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.
provision barring liquor adver-
tisements from the mails in States
that prohibit such advertising is in
cluded in the measure, which camo
before the house as rider to the an
nual postoffice appropriation bill, in
serted by the senate last week on
motion of Senator Reed by vote of
So to II.
Although the appropriation bill will!
go 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 given
1t as their opinion that the legislative
features added to the postal bill would
not be effected until July /. the eff
fective date Of the appropriations it
carries, senator's and representatives
who are considered authorities said
tonight that all the legislative riders,
including the Reed prohibition amend
mcnt. 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 a
national prohibition amendment. de-
ciared the overwhelming affirmative
vote has killed the State rights argu-
ment and that the national amend
ment, already reported favorably, Ger
ta!nly would pass the house at this
acssion. The national legislative COM
mittcc of the Anti-Saloon league is
sued statement saying today's ac-
ton had cleared the decks" for ra-
tlonal amendment
Many Of the wet advocates in con-
Eross, particularly those with brew
crs among their constituents, also de-
ciared themselves much pleased with
the outcome. The brewers are under
atod to have been in favor of the pro-
vision both because it would curtail
"o-called mail business carried on by
houses dealing i'm sprituous liquors
and because it might prevent States
now wet from going dry and indeh-
glad tidngs for all.