The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
PROH|B|T|ON|STS
 TAKE UMbRAGE AT
 PERSH|NG'S ORDER
They Claim He Has Given Permission to Men to Drink Light Wines
 and Beer
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Washington, December 30.-(SpeciaD The prohibitionists are not as fond of General Pershing as they profess to be. They are determined to ascertain his authority for certain rules which he has established for the government of American troops in France.
 The Anti-Saloon league has stated that if to counteract instructions of the general an act of Congress be nec- essary, Congress will act; and that if an order from the war department be necessary, such an order will pro- ceed. Secretary Baker declined to dis cuss the attitude of the league.
 HOW QUESTION AROSE
 It all came about when General Per shing issued his order prohibiting sol diers from drinking liquor, providing severe punishment for intoxication. but permitting the boys to taste beer and light wines. It was as the way ing of red flag before the eyes of bull. The prohibitionists prepared immediately to proceed against Gen. eral Pershing on the presumption that he did not know as much about sol- diers as they do, or how soldiers, about to die for their country, should be best controlled
 MT. Randall, prohibitionist from Cai- ifornia, is to lead the fight. He has announced that on the first day of Congress following the holidays he will introduce a resolution demanding of the President the authority on which General Pershing proceeded in issuing his order.
 RANDALL'S VIEWS Here is what MT. Randall avows: "The use of beer and light wines is clearly prohibited under the army act which specifically declares that no alcoholic liquor shall be sold to any l man wearing the United States uni |. form General Pershing seems to have issued an order which violates the laws of his country. No matter how broad his authority, he should make l his orders conform to the law of the country he is serving. It does not matter that he is in a foreign land, the laws of which are different from the | laws and customs of this country"
 
 l understood the Pershing order, II was not so much permission to soldiers to 1 drink wine and beer, as prohibition against drinking whisky. He added | that the war act was passed to remeuy l certain conditions in the United States l and was not extraterritorial. He even went so far as to add that France, be- cause of an American law, was not prohibited from selling to an Ameri- can if Franca shOIId So deaire NO FOLLOWING
 I An inquiry among prohfbitionists of l the House brings to light the fact that I the average member is not inclined to follow Randall in his contemplated at- ] tempt to interfere with General Per. shing in the management of Ameri- can soldiers in his care. As signifi- cant of possible consequences, however few of these prohibitionists will per init their names to be used in this con- nectioh- Privately, however, they dc state that Randall in attempts to in terfere with Pershing or to regulate the statutes of France, is possibly in- clined to go too far.
 1 The text of the Randall resolution use of which is permitted, follows: | Therefore, be it resolved. That the President be requested to inform the House by what authority or on whose authority General Pershing has issued his order permitting the soldiers of tho ! American army in France to have beer and wine in violation of the spirit of 3 law already enacted by Congress"
 MUCE SPECULATION
 There is come speculation as wha' answer the President would make t. the demands were the House to follow the suggestion of Mr. Randall. Ht might make answer similar to that oi coln, disgusted with Union failure il of Grants successes in the west. pro hibitionists demanded his removal be cause of alleged intemperance. Lin coln, disgusted with union failure 1T Virginia. answered by imploring tht prohibitionists to send him Grant. brand in order that he might inspir, generals who were meeting with dail, T reverses before Lee and Jackson.
 At any rate. the prohibitionists vii have the distinction of being the sol' American organization to attempt tt interfere with Pershing's forces "ove
 there" .
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