Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-06-30


Washington, June 29.-Intervention
of President Wilson today checked
the bone dry national prohibition
movement In congress. Confinement
OF prohibition legislation to distilled
beverages without interference with
manufacture of beer and wines, 1t is
generally agreed, will result.
Prohibition leaders were asked by
the president to drop their fight
against the manufacture of beer, wines
and other light intoxicants. With a
formal response from the "drys' de-
ferred, senate leaders of all factions
quickly reached an understanding to
limit absolute prohibition to distilled
spirits.
President Wilson exchanged letters
with the Rev. Dr. James Cannon,
chairman of the National Anti -sa loon
leagues legislative committee, and
called senate leaders to the White
House in his effort to smooth the way
for final enactment of the food meas
ure. Bone dry" legislation was writ
ten into the bill before 1t passed the
house and the senate agriculture COM
mittee amended the provision to pro-
hibit the manufacture of distilled
spirits but empowered the president
to permit the making of beer and
wine.
President Expresses Views.
In his letter to DR.. Cannon the
president said Senator Martin, demo-
cratic leader, had asked him to ex-
press his views on the food-liquor
legislation regarding the "wisest and
most patriotic policy to be pursued"
and added:
Il regard the immediate passage of
the bill as of vital consequence to the
safety and defense of the nation. Time
Is the essence, and yet it has become
evident that heated and protracted
debate will delay the passage OF the
bill indefinitely If the provisions af-
fectlng the manufacture of beer and
wines are retained and insisted upon.
In these circumstances l 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 il the friends of those
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. / am confident
that these considerations will seem to
you, as they seem to me. to be impera-
tive"
Anti-SalOOn Men Yield.
Anti-saloon league representatives to-
night replied that while recognizing
the force of any appeal from the presi-
force of any appeal from the presi-
dent and commander-in- chief of the
army and navy in time of war;"
definite answer would be deferred
until after conference with prohibi-
ton leaders in the senate and house.
Informal agreement, however, was
reached by the prohibition forces In
the senate for virtual abandonment of
the fight to include beer and wines in
the liquor legislation. Their future
efforts probably will be directed to
securing an amendment authorizing
the president to suspend manufac-
ture of malt, fermented and vinous
beverages in his discretion. President
Wilson told senators with whom he
conferred that as compromise and
to secure action on the food control
legislation he would be willing to have
congress clothe him with such au-
thority.
Tonight the so-called dry leaders
In Congress conferred and 1t was sx.
pected that tomorrow there would be
evolved definite plan of action. The
prohibition leaders admitted that the
presidents action eliminated beer
and wines from the program.
Action Next Week.
Passage of the food measure early
next week was confidently expected
through the prospective elimination
of the great contention over liquor.
Discussion of committee amend
ments was begun late today and,
without a roll call, the senate reject
ed an amendment by Senator Smith
of Arizona to add news print paper
and it's products to articles over which
government control is proposed.
The senate added fertilizer ingre-
dients to the list of products over
which federal power shall extend.
Senator King gave notice of q motion
to strike copper from the list. while
other senators proposed amendments
extending control to cotton, clothing,
leather and many other materials.
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