Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-30
PRESIDENT CHECKS.
bone Dry MOVE
Asks Prohibition Leaders to Drop
Fight Against Beer and
Light Wines.
IN ORDER TO PREVENT DELAY
Writes DR.. Cannon That Imme-
date Passage of Food Bill
Is Vital for Nation.
IN ORDER TO PREVENT DELAY
lBy Associated Press.l

tion of President Wilson to- day checked
the bone dry" national prohibition
movement in Congress. Confinement
Of prohibition legislation to distilled
beverages. without Interference with
manufacture of beer and wines. and 1t
is generally agreed. will result
Prohibition leaders we're asked by
the President, in order TO prevent delay
in passing the food control bill. to drop
their fight against the manufacture of
beer. wines and other light intoxicants.
With formal response from the .drys''
deferred. Senate leaders of all factions
quickly reached understanding to
limit absolute prohibition to distilled
spirits.
President Wilson exchanged letters
with the Rev. James Cannon. D. d..
chairman Of the National Anti-Saloon
Leagues legislative committee and
called senate leaders to the White
House In his effort TO harmonic diff
ferenccs and smooth the way for final
enactment of the food measure
Bonc-dry'' legislation was written
| into the bill before II passed the House
and the Senate Agriculture Committee
amended the provision to prohibi, the
manufacture of distilled spirits. but
4
the making OF beer and wine
ASKED BY SENATOR MARTIN
TO EMPRESS HIS VIEWS
In his letter to DR.. Cannon. the Pres
| ident said Senator Martin. Democratic
Lender. had asked him to express his
views on the food-liquor legislation re-
SardinE the wisest and most patri-
otic policy TO be pursued and added; :;
hn
the biii as OF vital consequence TO the
safety and defense of the nation Tin,e
Is OF the essence; and yet IT has become
evident that heated and protracted de
bate will delay the passage of the bill
indchnitely II the provisions affecting
'he manufacture Of beer and wines are
retained and insisted upon In these
circumstances. I have not hcsitated to
say to members of tho Senate ,rho ba, 9
peen Kind enough to consult me. that
II would undoubtedly be in the puh,,r
interest in this very critical matter
II the friends of those provisions should
consent TO their elimination from the
present measure. Feeling that vour
committee Is actuated by the same ma :
trio'ic motives which inspire me. am
'onhdent that the considerations will
seem to YOU as they seem 10 me. IN he
Imperative"
An'i-Saloon League representatives
.o-n'Eh' replied that. while recogniz-
ing the force of any appeal from tho
''S'ueht ana commanderin- chief OF
the army and navy in time of war; a
oehhite answer would be deferred until
after conference with prohibition lead
ers in the Senate and House.
WILLING TO HAVE CONGRESS
CLoTHE HIM WITH AUTHORITY
Informal agreement was reached bv
those of the prohibition forces in the
senate for virtual abandonment of the
night TO include beer and wines in the
liquor legislation. Their future efforts
II appeared probable. would be directed
10 securing an amendment authorizing
me president to suspend manufacture
OF malt. fermented and vinous bey.
erages in his discretion President
wilson told Senators with whom he
conferred that as a compromise and TO
secure action upon the food control
legislation. he would be willing to
have Congress clothe him with such
authority
A copy of the Presidents letter to
the Anfi-Saloon League leader was
sent to Senator Martin. and the Senate
sccthed all day with conferences to-
ward compromise. Tonight the So
called dry" leaders in Congress con-
ferred. and il was expected that to-
morrow there would be evolved a
definite plan of action.
The prohibition leaders admitted that
the Presidents action eliminated becr
and wines from the program. Before
the President acted the Senate had
been evenly divided on the question of
peer and wines. Several Senator's who
were strongest for their inclusion to-
| night announced that they would ac-
cede to the Presidents wishes.
PASSAGE EARLY NEXT WEEK
CONFIDENTLY EXPECTED
measure early next week was conf
IDENTIFY expected through the prospec-
tive elimination of the great conten-
tion over liquor. The general legisla-
tion will be taken up in detail to-
morrow. and final action upon the
liquor sections probably by Tuesday
when leaders expect final vote
House leaders. active in to-day's con-
ferences. predicted that body would ac-
cede to the Presidents desire as to
beer and wines.
Brief references to the prohibition
| issue were made during Senate debate
| to-day by Senators Hardwick, of
Georgia, and Reed. of Missouri. The
former said the control legislation,
as well as the prohibition sections. in
volve "a straight-jac for the ma
tion. Senator Reed criticized the press
for opposing prohibition, but paying
scant attention to the other alleged
evils Of the bill. Senator Hardwick
vigorously attacked the bill in a three
hour speech as "despotic. autocratic.
undemocratic and un-American."
Discussion of committee amendments
was begun late to-day and without
a roll call the Senate rejected an
Continued on Third Page.)
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