The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-22

Washington, Feb. 21.--Absolute pro- hiLition legislation took it's longest for ward stride ill the nations history today when tue house, after two hours of uproarious debate, approved by a four to one majority a senate measure which would rise an ironclar barrier against importation of liquor into pro hibition states. It is expected to re- ceiye the approval of President Will son within a week. adding immediate ly to the "bone dry" territory about one-third Of continental United States.
 The provision is regarded as the most far reaching that could be enact cd by the iede1ai government and as sweeping as would be possible under any method short of a national prChi. bition amendment. It would cut off entirely liquor importations amount ing now to millions of dollars annual. ly, into the large number of states which have forbidden manufacture or sa.e, but have permitted importation for personal use.
 Advocates of prohibition divided among themselves over the exped. iency of the step, some friends of the carse declaring so drastic a law would have a reactionary effect. In the same way those who have opposed prohibition were not unanimous in opposition when the vote was taken The roll call brought cheers anl cries or "bone dry" from all parts of the house, however, and the result was greeted with noisy demonstration.
 The vote as. officially announced was 52l to 72. but 6 recheck of the roll changed 1t to 319 to 72 Party lines were completely broken and numerous repres entatives from prohi- bition states were recorded in the neg ative So large vote seldom is re. corded on any measure.
 \ provision barring liquor advertise ments from the ma:ls in states that prohibit such advertising is includ. ed in the measure. which came before the house as a rider 10 the annual postoffice appropriation bill inserted by the senate last week on motion of Senator Reed by a vote of 55 to II. Although the appropriation bill will 20 to conference because the house dis agreed 10 other senate amendments, there is little possibility that the pro hibition amendment. concurred in without change, will be altered.
 Members of congress are taking it for granted that President Wilson will approve it.
 Although some members had given it as their opinion that tie legisla' tive features added 10 the postal bill would not be effective until July 1 the effective date of the appropria' tions, if carries. senators and repre- sentatives who are considered au- thorties said tonight that all the leg isiative riders, including the Reed prohibition amendment, undoubtedly would become operative as soon as the president has signed the measure.
 Dry advocates were iubilant to- night. Representative Webb of North Carolina. father of the resolution for national prohibition amendment, de clared the overwhelming affirmative vote had killed the states rights ar gument and that the national amend ment, already reported fayorably. cer- tain.y would pass the house at this session.
 Many of the wet advocates in con greLs. particularly those with brewers among their constituents, also decas' cd themselves much pleased with the outcome. The brewers are under stood to have been in favor of the pro vision both because t would curtail the so-caled mail order business car r.ed on by houses dealing in spurious liquors and because it might prevent states now wet from going dry and