Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-29
President Seeks to Bring
Contending Factions of
Senate Together.
ADMITS ISSUE CAN'T
BE ELIMINATED
Ready to Accept Some Form Of Re.
strietion Of Manufacture Of Grain
Into Strong Drinks-Willing TO Have
Congress Agree to Prohibition Of
Whisky and Gin and Discretionary
Power as to Beer and Light Wines.

Washington. June 29-Presdent Will
son stepped into the prohibition fight
over the food bill today. partly to save
the measure from row between con.
tending factions and party to get a law
he believes the country will approve
The president told senators he agreed
with the proposal TO stop the manu-
facture of foodstuffs into whisky and
gin. but did not believe the brewing
of beer and the manufacture of light
wines should be stopped now.
A provision to prohibit distilling and
to empower the president to stop brew
ing and wine making when he consid-
,ers it necessary, he told the senate
leaders today he believed would salts
fy sprohibitionists and also the coun-
TRY.
An amendment to that effect will be
introduced later with prospects of
adoption.
President az Arbitrator.
food bill now before the senate so that
it would be free from aany prohibition
provisions, or at least so as to grant
the president authority to permit the
use Of sfoodstuffs in the manufacture
iof beer and light wines, wns beg-rfi L. y
day by arbitration when President VIII
son conferred on the question with
Senator Martin. the majority leader.
and Senator Gerry, of Rhode Island.
Other conferences probably will fol-
low quickly. The president was UNDER
stood to, feel that the insistence of some
senators on bone dry legislation en-
which he is anxious to see become a
law as soon as possible.
Administration leaders were said to
feel that such legislation would prove
a disturbing factor in the economic life
OF the country and might lead to dis
content among the workers.
Fears Public Sentiment.
Postmaster General Burleson. who
often represents the president in con-
ferrlng with congressman, went to the
capitol today and told senators the
president does not desire to divide
public sentiment during the war by
cutting off light alcoholic beverages
and that such action was unnecessary
as 1t would conserve comparatively
small supplies Of foodstuffs.
The provision to stop manufacture
of distilled spirits, Mr.. Burleson said,
was not Objectionable to the president.
Some Of the senate leaders expressed
confidence that the prohibition, sec
tions would he modified so as to per-
NIT beer and wine manufacture to
continue and that prohibition of dis
titled spirits would be adopted.
Senator Sheppard. leading prohibi-
Zionist. and who prompted the COM
mittee's proposal to stop the manufac-
ture of both spirits and beer; said that
If the president desired to have author
ity to govern brewing and wine max
ing. he favored 1t and believed congress
would agree.
Can't Eliminate Measure.
The president realizes that since
prohibition has been made an issue in
congress 1t Is almost impossible to
hope for tho elimination Of some sort
of prohibition legislation.
Altho officials do not pretend to
speak for him. it was understood that
the president would be willing to &C.
cept measure under which foodstuffs
in the manufacture Of beverage aIco-
hol would be forbidden but with au-
thority given him to permit their use
in making beer and light wines. There
were indications today that eyery effort