Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
FIRST STEP IS TAKEN
TOWARD ABSOLUTELY
DRY UNITED STATES
Approves Amendment Forbid
ding During War Use of
Cereals or Grain in Making
intoxicating Liquor

WASHINGTON. May l2.-The first
legislative step toward conservation OF
the nations food resources and long
advance step toward an absolutely dry
United States was taken tonight by the
senate in approving, SS to 81. an
amendment to the administration es-
pionage bill forbidding during the war
the use of cereals or grain in the man
ufacture of intoxicating liquor
BY a majority of one vote the senate
also threw out of the bill the admins
tration's press censorship section and
then voted Overwhelmingly not to put
in modified section as was done in
the house. This action is expected to
throw the censorship fight into con-
ference where the influence of the adj
ministration can be brought to bear
more directly. What will be the out
come no senator would predict with
confidence tonight
The prohibition amendment was
adopted under a rule limiting debate
sharply. and there were only brief
speeches on each side. Just previously
the senate had voted down, AZ to %. a
proposal to forbid sale of intoxicants
during the war.
Effective September /. the amend
ment is calculated to confine sale and
consumption to whisky and other grain
liquors already in stock and TO wines.
brandies or other drinks that depend
upon other materials for their main
constituents.
Another opportunity to vote upon it
will be offered when the senate takes
the bill with the amendment from the
committee of the whole, but opponents
of the prohibitory provision are not
confident that they will be able to over
turn today's action.
Estimates during the debate were
that at least $500, 100000 in annual in
ternaI revenues would be lost if the
amendment stands.
Elimination of the press censorship
section ended q long and bitter hghs.
The vote was 80 to So. Opportunity
will come also for another vote on this
section. and the administration is ex-
pected to make ar effort TO have the
senate reverse itself.
The prohibition amendment. proposed
by Senator Cummns. Republican, OF
Iowa. reads as follows.
THAT on and after September |, 1911,
during the period of the war with the
Imperial government of Germany. 1T
shall be unlawful TO use or employ, di-
rectly or indirectly, any cereal, grain.
sugar or syrup in the production of in
toxicating LIQUOR IN any form or of any
kind: provided that nothing in this sec
ton shall prevent the use of sugar or
syrup i'm the manufacture OF wines as
now authorized by existing law; pro-
vided further, that this section shall
not be construed to make unlawful the
manufacture of alcohol or intoxicating
liquor for industrial. mechanical medi-
cinal. sacramental or scientific pur-
poses under rules and regulations to be
established by the secretary of the
treasury.
"A violation of this section will be
punished by a fine of not more than
s.. 900. or Imprisonment for not more
than three years. or BOTH
PROFIT AMENDMENT VOTE.
Senators who voted for the amend
ment were:
emocrats-Ashurst. Beckham. Gore.
Kendrick. King. Kirby. McKeller. Mar
tin. Myers. Phelan. Pittman, Shafroth.
Sheppard. Shields. Smith Georgia..
Swanson. Thompson, Trammel. Varda-
man. Walsh. Williams. Walcott-22.
Republicans-Bra Cummins. Cur
it's GaIlinger. Hale. Johnson (Califor-
MAJ. Jones Washington, Kenyon,
Norris Page. PoindeXter. sherman.
Smoot, Sterling, Sutherland, Townsend
-16
Against the. amendment:
Democrats - Rankhead. Broussard.
Fletcher. Gerry. Hardwick. Hollis Hus-
ting, James. Jones New MeXico). Lew
is, Overman. Pomerene. Ransdell. Reed,
Robinson. Simmons, Smith CSouth Car
olina). Stone. Underwood-l9.
Republcans-Bandege Calder. Fall
France. Frelinghuysen. Harding, Kel-
log IaFollette, Lodge. Nelson. New
Wadsworth. Weeks-13.
An amendment by Senator Gronna pro-
hibiting the use of grains and othef
necessities Of life i'm the manufacture