The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-02-23
PROHIBITION CAUSE
TOOK A LONG STRIDE
UNITED STATES CLOSE TO A
REAL DRY LAW.
Majority of 319 to ~. Favored
Passage of Reed Amendment
in House.

Washington, rep. EI.-Absolute
prohibition legislation took it's long
est forward stride in the nation s
history today when the house. after
two hours of uproarous debate, an
proved by four to one majority n
senate measure which would raise an
iron clad barrier against importation
of liquor into prohibition States. It
Is expected to receive the approval
OF President Wilson within a week.
adding Immediately to the bone
dry" territory about one-third of con-
tinental United States.
The provision is regarded as the
most far reaching that could be en-
acted by the federal government and
as sweeping as would be possible un-
der any method short of national
prohibition amendment.
1t would cut of entirely liquor i'm
portations, amounting now to mil
lions of dollars annually, into the
large number OF States which have
forbidden manufacture or sale but
have permitted importation for per
sonal use.
Division Within wings.
Advocates Of prohibition divided
among themselves over the expedi-
ency Of the step, some friends OF the
cause declaring so drastic a law
would have reactionary effect. In
posed prohibition were not unani,
nous in opposition when the vote
was taken. The roll call brought
cries of "bone-dry" from all parts of
the house, however, and the result
was greeted with a noisy demonstra.
ton.
The vote as officially announced
was 321 to 72, but a recheck of the
roll changed it to 319 to 70. Party
lines were completely broken down
and numerous representatives from
prohibition Stats were recorded in
the negative. So large vote seldom
is recorded on any measure.
A provision barring liquor adver,
tisements from the mails in States
that. prohibit such advertising is in
cluded in the measure, which came
before the house as rider to the an,
nual postofflce appropriation bill, in
serted by the senate last week on
motion OF Senator Reed by vote OF
'55 to IL.
Little Chance of Change.
Although the appropriation bill
will go to conference because the
house disagreed to other senate,
amendments there is little possibility
that the prohibition amendment. CON
CURED in without change will be al
tered. Members of congress are
taking 1t for granted that President
Wilson will approve it.
Although some members have
given it as their opinion that tn,
legislative features added to the pos
tai bill would not be effective unth
July 1. the effective date of the ap-
propriations 1t carries, senators and
representatives who are considerec
authorities said tonight that all the
legislative riders, including the Reeo
prohibition amendment, undoubted-
ly would become operative as soon
as the President has signed the
measure.
Dry advocates were jubllant to-
night. Representative Webb or
North Carolina. father OF the resolu-
tion for a national prohibition
amendment, declared the overwhelm-
ing affirmative vote has killed the
State rights argument and that the
national amendment, already report
ed favorably, certainly would pass
the house at this session. The ma
tional legislative committee OF the
Anti-Saloon league issued state
ment saying today's action had
cleared the decks for a national
amendment.