The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-10
WILL CHURCHES GET
SACRAMENTAL WINE
DESPITE THE LAW +?
Fclosiastics Over Oklahoma Are Much
Stirred Regarding Matter

oklahoma City. Sept 10-A meeting
Of attorneys for all railroads running
into the state viii be held here Tuesday
morning TO determine if the "bone-dry"
law can be in anyway construed to adj
nit of Importation of wine for sacra.
mental purposes.
Attorney General Freeing 50 declared
Saturday in a statement, in which, spur
red by fire Of criticism from Catholic
and Protestant clergy Of the state, he
defended his course on the question.
General Freezing denied that any
statement has been isued by his office
on the Importation Of sacramental wine
or on the seizure of q supply destined
for a Catholic church in Norman. He
intimated that his department didn't
enact the "hone-dry" law and that he
has but one course--to enforce this as
well as all other laws.
Looking for a JOOphole.
He admitted that if the railroad at
torneys can't find some loophole in the
law to allow a perfectly legal" impor'
tation Of sacramental wines he will be
in a quandary. The churchmen have
announced that they will continue the
use Of wine. despite the law and its lack
Of exceptions and Attorney General
Freezing is sworn TO enforce all the pro
visions of the statute:
Here is the statement he dictated
Saturday night
There seems TO be some misunder-
standing on the part Of Protestant and
Catholic ministers concerning a pur-
ported opinion from my department
with reference TO wine used for sacra-
mental purposes AS a matter Of fact,
no opinion whatever on the subject has
gone forward.
How Opinion" Got Out.
"The confiscation Of certain wines
in an adjoining county raised the ques
tion and as we have recently been inves
tigating the law on the subject with
view of assisting religious organizations
in securing necessary wines for sacra-
mental purposes in a perfectly legal
manner.
zone Of my force embodied his views
in the form Of a tentative letter, which
seems 20 me an admirable statement Of
law on the subject The letter, in sub
stance says that the bone-dry' law en-
acted by the sixth legislature does not
make any exception whatsoever for the
manufacture. sale, transportation or use
Of any kind Of intoxicating liquor, the
sale Of which is prohibited by the laws
Of the state
THE letter also states plainly that IL
was probably not the intention Of the
legislature TO enact laws which would
prohibit the use Of wine for sacrament
al purposes. yet the constitution and
statutes seem to have that effect.
No Exception In Law
Unfortunately, while it may have
been the intention of the legislature to
except wines for such purposes, no ex.
ception is stated In the law and as a
matter of fact, no exception is stated
except pure alcohol for apothecaries'
The railroads, designed to obey the
law, seem TO have taken the same view
and have not knowingly received ship
ments for transportation into the state
Of intoXicants. regardless Of character,
quality or purpose.
Il am informed that attorneys for the
carriers have arranged a conference on
the subject for Tuesday morning in the
Skirvin hotel the purpose Of which is
to determine whether any justification
exists in the law for receiving and trans
porting such wines into the state
Trouble May BE Ahead
81 hope 20 be able 20 meet with them
and hope that a construction Of the
law may be found whereby no hardship
will be worked on religious organiza.
| tions.
However, we do not make the law We
| merely construe it."
And Attorney General Freezing ad.
mitted there may De a world of trouble
i'm that last paragraph Dc the railroad
attorneys DO not find some way out