Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-27
POWER Is PLACED IN
HANDS OF CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
PASSING THE BUCK
" is MAINTAINED BY FRIENDS
OF PRESIDENT THAT HE DOES
NOT CARE TO HAVE THIS pow.
Err THRUST UPON HIM.

washington. June 27.-Bone dry
prohibition for the United States rests
with President Wilson today Should
ne indicate a willingness to accent
responsibility it was admitted TODAY.
the Senate will jam thru an amend
ed food control bill which will pro-
hibit further manufacture of distilled
spirits and delegate to the President
responsibility for deciding whether
vlnous and malt liquors are to be man
ufactured and sold during the re.
mainder of the war period.
II the President shall let It be
known that he does not believe such
responsibility should be his, then the
struggle now in progress in the SEN
ate must be fought out to the bitter
end
The Senate very plainly desires to
pass the buck" Friends OF the Pres
ident believe that he has no desire to
accept what actually is Legislative re-
sponsibility.
When the agricultural committee
OF the Senate met today 1t had before
1t the report OF its subcommittee
dealing with the House bill passed
last Saturday and which contained
the bone dry provision. For the House
proviso the subcommittee had writ
ten the following
Ihat from and after thirty DAYS
from the date of approval OF this act
1t shall be unlawful for any firm. cor
poration or person to use in the man.
ufacture of any intoxicating liquor for
beverage purposes. any perishable or
non'perishable feeds. food or food ma.
terials.
whenever the President shall find
" necessary to conserve perishabIe
products named he Is empowered TO
permit the use of such products in
the manufacture of vineous liquors."
whenever In the judgment of the
PRESIDENT the public interest would be
subserved thereby he is empowered
to permit the limited use of the ma.
terals mentioned In the manufacture
or malt or fermented liquors and to
prescribe the alcoholic contents there-
Of"
In addition the President Is a,l-
thor1zed to take over any or all dis.
TILED liquors in bond for Redistribution
into alcohol for war industrial or 9th.
er nonbeverage purpose. at a reason
able compensation.
1he amended bill also extends the
presidential authority over iron and
steel and other materials necessary
Tor the proper conduct of the war
1t is the prohibition proposition
that occupies the limelight, however.
Naturally the one thing that most
concerns the President is the enor.
nous loss of revenue II prohibition is
to be enacted on thirty days notice.
The millions of dollars of losses OF
owners of the industry and hundreds
OF thousands of workers employed in
the liquor business who will be
thrown out of employment without
notice, Is another problem that Ia
causing serious concern.
Financial experts here have warned
the congressional leaders and admin.
istration chiefs that ii the prohibition
plans are to be iammed thru without
giving the country an opportunity to
re adjust its financial system to meet
the changes serious financial difficult
ties are certain There are many
banks In various sections of the
country who have lent large sums OF
money to breweries, distillers, etc,
and they will have to charge this
money up as a total loss IL the plants
are to be closed without the owners
having opportunity TO meet changes
There is distinct possibility that
the President will let his views on
the subject be known soon The bill
will go to conference after the senate
gets thru with 1t. That is certain
And in conference the effort to read
Just the issues of prohibition and to
arrange section that can get the
support of both houses will be fought
out II will be two or three weeks at
least before the country will know
what to expect on this subject
Meanwhile the senate is being de.
luged with kilograms and letters for
aud against prohibition, The wet
states are pointing out that very
large percentage of their revenues
come from the license system and II
this Is suddenly withdrawn they will
be In q bad way. But 1t is accepted
that the presidents wishes In tho
last analysis will prevail and all OF