The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-18
Senate Adopts House ResOlu-
ton by Vote of AZ to s.
Gives Legislatures Years in
Which To Vote on 1t.
TO WIN MUST CARRY So
Drys Already Lining Up for
Contest in Wet States.
Predict Legal Battle Over Time
Restriction in Bill.

| washington, Dec. IS.-The consti-
tutional amendment for national pro-
hibition was today finally submitted
by congress to the states, for rati-
fication or rejection within seven
years The senate completed congress
sional action by accepting the resolu-
ton as passe yesterday by the house.
AZ to 8, without a roll call.
The senates action today transfers
| the fight to the state legislatures
Three-fourths must ratify the amend-
ment to make it part of the corsti-
tuition.
i One year after such approval "the
! manufacture, sale or transpoI tation OF
Intoxicating liquors within, the impor-
tation thereof into or the expectation
thereof from the United States and all
territory subject to the jurisdiction
thereof, for beverage purposes. will be
prohibited"
The drys have already laid plans for
fights iE Ohio, Missouri, Massachu-
| sets and Kentucky, now wet states.
Much territory, in all of them, it was
pointed out, has long been forbidden
ground for John Barleycorn. About
IS per cent of Massa chusetts is dry
( under option.
Will Stump Wet States
Representative Webb, who engi-
neered the amendment thru its legis-
lative pitfalls to success, announced
he and other leaders will stump wet
states during summer vacations until
the required thirty-siX rubber stamp
their approval.
Senator Borah, Idaho, made a brief
but vigorous fight against the provi-
sion requiring ratification of the dry
i amendment within seven years by
three-fourths of the states.
Borah declared congress had no
right to limit the time within which
constitutional amendments shall be
ratified.
The constitution does not limit the
time" said Borah. States may ratify
any time they see fit. The result of
this provision, in my opinion, would
be that the courts would hold it in
validated the submission of the
amendments
Will Test COpstitutionality?
! When other amendments are
brought up, We could say they must
be adopted in a year, or six months,
or leave twenty years for their adop-
ton Congress can't do this. in my
opinion, without endangering the sub
mission of this important question
Senator Sheppard, author of the
resolution, said congress had fought
this question out thoroly and decided
1t has the right TO limit the time
DOIdn lllOlCdleQ InaI an early effort
will be made to have the courts decide
whether congress has the right to put
the seven-year limitation on ratifica-
ton.
Only a handful of dry workers
saw the final chapter written by con-
grec5 to this legislation. There was
no shouting or uproar such as fea-
tured the house vote yesterday.
Agreement on a time limit to be
fixed for state ratification was the
+ frafFa
complete congressional action on the
federal prohibition amendment an
| proved by the senate last August and
passed by the house yesterday by a
vote. of 2S2 to 1873
The house form of the resolution
allowed three-fourths of the state
legislatures seven years to ratifv
the amendment instead of the senate
time provision of six
The resolution, whcn proposed an
amendment to the federal constitution
forbldding the manufacture, sale or
importation of intoxicating liquor for
| beverage purposes in the United States
and territories. does not need the
presidents approval, and IegisIa lures
may act as soon as they please after
: 1.-the signatures of the vice president
and speaker have been attached
In Three Years, Says Bryan.
w. J. Bryan declared adoption by
three-fourths of the states within
Bryan Joined with the legislative
committee of the anti-saloon league in
/ congratulating the country on the
passage of prohibition in congress
| Il regard it as the most moral ra-
form of the generation" Bryan said.
brewers Predict Its Defeat.
St Louis. Mo, Dec. 1s.-If the
/ brewer interests see an unfavorabIe
sign in the passage of the prohibition
amendment resolution by the house
day
Most of those who could be reacbaa
today were of the opinion the sfstas
: would not muster a three-fourths ma
) jority for ratification of the amend
ment
! Few could give another specific rea
son for this belief other than national
prohibition would create a bad sit,a-
ton" and would find strong onnost
ton among the laboring classes.
Hope to ''Save" Beer and Wines.
Milwaukee. Wis, Dec. 1s.-AItbo
! passage of the prohibition amendment
, in congress was generally accepted as
: where. leaders of the industry here -
day expressed belief that the states
will ratify the bill
II think the people will come gradu-
; ally to approval of beer and light
: wines. Just as Europe has" said
Charles Manegold, ji-. president of the
| MiIwaukee-W -Waukesha Brewing com
: pany. The day of strong liquors IA
: passing all over the world"
Most of the brewers took a very
'pessimistic view of the situation fol-