The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-28
Beers and Wines in Battle for
Life in q. S. Senate.
Abandon Hope of Passing Food
Bill by July 1.
MANY DESERT FOOD MEASURE
Object to Including Prohibition
Under Proposed Guise.
Swarm of Amendments Now
Would Prohibit Candy, Gum.
BY ROBERT j. BENDER

Washington, June 2S.-Wets in the
senate today decided to attempt to
strike out the entire prohibition
amendment to the food control bill.
The effort will have the support of
administration leaders who declared
that beer and wines are necessary
not only for public equanimiry, but
for purposes of emergency revenue
1t will be argued by administration
leaders that the Gore amendment to
the revenue bill now in the finance
committee provides for prohibition of
distilled spirits manufacture, and APP
peal will be made to let war pro-
hibition" be limited to that for the
time being.
Washington, June 2S.-Beers and
wines begin their battle for life on the
senate floor today. Their whisky ally
is already definitely vanquished by an
overwhelming vote
Food control itself temporarily has
been lost sight of in the prohibition
battle.
With the outcome uncertain, hope
of food control by July 1 has been
abandoned. Opposition to the bill it
self has almost entirely vanished, but
in it's place has sprung up violent an
tagonism to its dry amendment.
Senators who would favor food con-
troll will vote against it on account of
thu liquor clause. Many who oppose
prohibition under guise of food control
legislation now will attack the meas
ure. Others will assail the dry amend
ment prohibiting beer and liquor man
ufacture, but placing the life of wines
in the presidents hands, as "discrim-
inatory."
Says Bill Favors Rich.
Must need I paint the picture
Senator Lewis of Illinois said, "of the
rich youth seated at a table with fine
char pagne and a lady and the young
man fills the slipper of his paramour
and lifts it to his lips, while outside
the laboring man finds it impossible
to have his glass of beer?"
Were it not for the strong "war
drouth'' sentiment, it is probable the
VETS would attempt to laugh" the
prohibition amendment to the food bill
off the measure. AS it is, they are
rallying amendments of every scope
and description, some of which will
prohibit candy, chewing gum and 9TH
er luxuries on the same ground as
liquors and beer-because they are
luXuries manufactured from bread
stuffs.
sThe battle beginning today prom
ises to be at once spectacular, violent
and extremely funny. But behind it
all. the food control bill is threatened
with prolonged idleness and its ulti-
mate passage before the early har-
vests hopeless
To Make Nation Bone Dry.
With drastic amendments to pro.
hibit the manufacture of beer as well
/ as distilled liquors and giving the pres
ident discretion to permit the manu-
/ facture of wine only, the administra.
ton food bill was agreed on Wednes
day by senate agriculture committed
and favorably reported as a substi.
tute for the bill now under considera.
| ton
Senators explained that the effec
! of the substitute prohibition plar
would be to prohibit absolutely fur
Their manufacture of distilled spirits
malt and fermented liquors, but Civ,
the president power if he deemed i
advisable, to allow manufacture O
wines alone. A fight on the senat,
floor was expected on the question O
stopping manufacture of beer.
Extend to Other Commodities.
The committee also approved exten
sion of federal control to steel and irol
products, petroleum and its products
I farm implements and machinery fer
tilizers and binding Irvine material a
recommended by its subcommittee.
Adoption of the licensing section t.
make it applicable only to agencie
and products in interstate or foreig1
commerce was adopted by the commit
tee as proposed by the subcommittee
] This was regarded as one of the mos
important amendments of the bill