The sun., 1917-04-21
Liquor Interests Alarmed
by Plans for COnSerya-
tiOm Of Food.
BRYAN JOINS IN FIGHT
Method of Making Nation
Dry to BE Left to PrpSi-
dent Wilson.
DISCl SSEU BY CABINET
Little Hope Entertained That
Howard Bill Can Be En-
acted Into Law.
)ISCl SSEU BY CABINET

Indications to-day that national prohi.
tailment Of the liquor traffic in this
country. in order 10 promote the na-
tons efficiency under the stress OF
war would be attempted through the
medium Of food conser. alton meas
ure rather than bv direct legislation.
Although some o. the out and out
prohihitionists are bringing pressure
TO bear OH Congress to make the
Howard bill prohibiting the manufac-
ture or sale of intoxicating liquors a
war measure, many leaders OF the pro-
hibition movement IN and out of Com
sress are OF the opinion that much
more support can he obtained if legis-
lat!on is attempted along the line Of
food conservation.
1t is significant that the brewers and
d!stillers of the country, who are here
in Washington in large numbers, are
more apprehensive regarding this plan
than they are OF national prohibition
law, whose Constltutionality, even as a
war measure. would be doubtful.
II was evident to-day that the dispo-
s'tion is to leave II to the President To
decide whether this matter shall be an.
preached in the guise Of food legislation
or whether a measure such as the How.
ara Dill shall be urged and included in
the programme OF war legislation. Tho
action OF the Democratic caucus yirtu.
ally precludes the consideration Of thls
measure unless the Adm,n!stra ton shau
80 classify II.
Considered by Cabinet
The question Of curtailing II not pro.
hioiting the production OF LIQUOR In hA.
neVed 10 have received some Considera-
uon AT to-day's Cabinet meeting. II
was said by one Cabinet member that
the matter was considered only in a gen.
erat way at preSol. The disposition.
ne said. was to let other matters re.
sarded as more pressing have the prec.
ehence and TO wait Until the food situ.
auon has shaped Itself a little more.
~ was Indicated by some Of the Pres,.
dents advisers that II the Administration
favored anything along this line /, proh.
ao1y would be in connection with ths
prooeH OF food conservation. ~ th,.
should not accomplish the Desired en5
II was intimated that = more direct wsv
OF bringing about prohibition would bs
considered w
That t,.e Administration 81, already
0onsldc1ne The matter 10 ,o.rectton
with the food problem was brought OFT
through report made 90 ClLgress nv
Secretary Houston on the Question of
the food supply. In this repo,. the
Secretary said:
some .. tie European nations havs
oo'a!ned considerable addition to MA
iood supply either ny reducing the pro.
auction "f malt liquors or hy reducin1
or prohibiting the product on % distilled
liquors u has been roughly estjrn,.ad
mat the value Of food t,er'a's entered
INTO the manufacture Of a'coholl, bev.
erages In this countrv In o-A ve,r
on the basis o. prices 'owar iban
,nose row prevailing r. arproxt-.ate,y
Secretary Houston . r.R eng re, ~,
much nor" exhaustive lnycsfigatlo,
or TINS phase uf he food s.'ua'n, than
- as. '"s"d I'm this ~-not' F.-r!rfs re
being complied showing The ey.ct qv.Y-
utN OF ea-n Kind = fo.G r.-t,r'al con.
slm"t ny II" hreN,-s aud dis,iilors.
lh"se figures AZ" - h. Lid before tn,
PRESIDENT to help him IN reaching A
occasion a 90 what action he Will take,