The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-06-30
BEER AND WINE !.
BANISBLOCKED
BY PRESIDENT
Wilson Forces Compromise
by Which Whiskey Is
to Be Barred.
DRYS IN AGREEMENT
New Section of Food Bill
Drafted Prohibiting
Only Spirits.
MAY BECOME PEACE LAW
Debate on Measure Proceeds in
Regular Order-Move to
Vote Prevented.
MAY BECOME PEACE LAW


definitely for the frst time his attitude
on the prohibition question as defined In
the pending food bill. the President
threw his influence openly to-day into
the scale In the close contest In the
Senate with a view OF bringing about
action that would permit the brewing OF
beer and the manufacture OF light wines.
but would stop the manufacture Of
whiskey.
Indications tonight were that the
Presidents views would be adopted so
far as the Senate is concerned. As .
result of the days developments a new
prohibition section was drafted Tonight
by Senator Gore. chairman of the Come
mittee on Agriculture. which would
make II unlawful to use food materials
for the manufacture Of spirits. but
would permit the manufacture OF beer
and wine unless the President shall dee
cree to the contrary.
This would be the exact reverse OF the
section adopted the other day by the
Senate committee. This prohibited the
manufacture Of beer. wine and whiskeys
! but gave the President the power to ex-
| empt vinous liquors. 1t was this draft
which aroused the ire Of the President.
The President's Letter.
In a letter he wrote to-day to Chair<
man Cannon Of the Anti-Saloon League.
and in talks he had with Administration
| Senators whom he called to the White
House. the President made II clear that
he was not opposed to whiskey prohibis
! ton, but did not want beer and vino
eliminated. Following is the Presidents
letter:
, am very glad to respond to the
request OF Senator Martin. ths Demo-
cratic floor leader in the Senate. that
/ give to your legislative committee
an expression of my opinion with re-
gard to the wisest and most patriotic
policy to be pursued toward the food
administration legislation now pend
ing in the Congress. ! regard the i'm.
mediate passage Of the bill rs OF vital
! consequence to the safety and defence
| OF the nation: but 1t has become evt.
dent that heated debate and pro-
tracted debate will delay the passage
Of the bill indefinitely IL the provisions
affecting the manufacture OF beer and
wines are retained and insisted upon.
In these circumstances / have not
hesitated to say to members OF the
, Senate who have been kind enough to
consult me that 1t would undoubtedly
be in the public interest in this very
critical matter II the friends of these
provisions should consent to their
elimination from the present measure.
Feeling that your committee is actu-
ated by the same patriotic motives
which inspire me. l am confident that
these considerations will seem to you.
as they seem to me, to be imperative.
Section as Amended.
Despite the Presidents Willingness
to allow Congress- to decide the question
entirely for ITSELF the Senate leaders,
following their practice in all recent
legislation, are still apparently insstent
upon placing additional powers in tho
hands OF the President. The President
did not seek the power OF deciding
whether the manufacture OF beer or
wine should be stopped. But the habis
has grown on the Senators. They ap-
parently cannot bring themselves to
assume without cavil or qualification
the responsibility for Che 1naMment
without thrustlng upon the President
this one more new responsibility
The amended section drafted by Sen-
ator Gore was as follows
Section IL. That It shall be unlawful
for any person, firm or corporation TO
use any foods, food materials or feeds
in the manufacture Of distilled spirits
for beverage purposes. (b) Whenever
tion, regulation or prohibition OF the
use of foods. food materials or feeds
In the production OF vnous. malt or
ferihented liquors, or that reduction
OF the alcoholic content OF any such
LIQUORS is essential In order to assure
, an adequate and continuous supply OF
,, food or feed he Is authorized from
time to time to prescribe and give
public notice OF the extent OF the
limitation. regulation. prohibition or
reduction so necessitated. Whenever
such notice shall have beer given and
shall remain unrevoked. no person
= rhall after a reasonable time. which
shall be prescribed in such notice. use
any foods food materials or feeds in
Z the production of such vinous, malt or
fermented liquors except In accordance
with the limitations, regulations and
prohibitions prescribed In such notice.
or to produce any such liquors having
!, an alcoholic content In excess of tho
amount prescribed therefor In such
notice.
g Prison and $4,000 Fine.
: The penalty for disobedience of the
y prohibition Of the use of foodstuffs in
the manufacture of whskey and kim
. dred beverages was fixec as in the pre-
y vious proposed sections at 5000 or
: two years in the penitentiary or Il.
y Following the announcement ,at tho
!, new section had been drafted ~ sena-
tor Gore at the request OF 'dgher au-
'. thority, the Senator explained that the
y wishes OF the President in this respect
were his own wishes. While personally
dubious as to the complete efficiency and
constitutionality of the section, Senator
Gore feels that the elimination OF the
- manufacture OF whiskey for the period
IS Of the war will be assured by additional
II virtually prohibitory legislation cons
m tained I'm the pending war revenue bill.
" into which has been written a provision
l. that grain for use In the manufacture Of
distiliates for beverage purposes shall