Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-07-13
j. 5. BAN ON BEER
REFUSED BY SENATE
Bone-Dry Clause for Food Bill
Beaten.
FINAL VOTE WAS 81 TO 81
Amendment to Prohibit the Importa-
ton of Liquor or Withdrawal of
That Held in Bond
Is Accepted.

Washington, July TN what was
regarded as the first real test of |
strength between senate vets and drys, |
the senate rejected, 80 to "a, food bill |
amendment by Senator Myers to pro-
h1bit manufacture of beer and vinous
beverages along with distilled liquors.
The senate recessed without dispos-
ing of the prohibition provision of the
bill.
An amendment by Senator Cum
minis Of Iowa prohibiting imports of
distilled liquors during the war and
Withdrawal of those now in bond for
beverage purposes was adopted by a
vote of "a to 30.
Upon reconsideration the senate
voted, 45 to 49, to retain the provisions
Of the CumminS' amendment.
Text of Amendment.
Senator CumminS amendment fol
| lows:
mo alcoholic beverage shall be i'm
| ported into the United States during
the existing war, and no part of the
! distilled spirits now in bond in the
/ United States shall be withdrawn dur
| ing the said war, to be used as a bev-
! erage."
1t was estimated that there are
about 220,000000 gallons of distillers'
spirits now in bonded warehouses,
and prohibition upon their with
drawal for beverage purposes would
cause loss in revenue estimated at
around S250,0O0OO0.
Adoption of the Cummins amend
ment complicated the situation. The
leaders said that should the senate
adopt the Robinson substitute the
Cummins amendment would not be
effective unless again adopted.
Senator Myers then offered his
amendment to the Robinson substitute
so as to cover beer and wine as well
as distilled liquors. That brought to
a head the controversy over President
Wilson's suggestion that beer and wine
be excepted so as to expedite passage
of the bill
Senator Pittman declared certain
senators were voting for prohibition
as an excuse to filibuster and kill the
bill, and he said he would vote
against the prohibition proposals in
order to get cloture rule to force
the bill through. In reply Senator
Norris asserted that no filibuster is
contemplated.
Senator Sherman announced that he
favored the "bone dry" proposal of
Senator Myers. He provoked laughter
by presenting kilograms from Chicago
constituents with foreign names asking
that no action be taken upon beer
Senator Stone warned the senate
that adoption Of the Myers amend.
ment would cause prolonged debate
He called on the senators to heed the
request of the president.
Many Delicate Questions.
Senator Chamberlain, in charge Of
the bill, said he would vote against
the Myers amendment because there
were enough delicate questions al
ready in the bill without interjectine
"bone dry" prohibition.
Senator Jones of Washington re
| iterated that the prohibition interests
are not opposing the bill, declaring the
records will show where ''the rebel
lion" against the measure comes from
Opposing the bone dry" proposal
Senator Phelan declared it would de
stroy large revenues and interfere witt
fixed habits of the people.
"The president is of the opinion,
he said, that the masses of the PEG
pie, without spokesmen here, ar
against invasion Of their daily habi
and what they regard as their righ
to drink a little beer with their din
= ners or lunch"
Senator Sheppard, a leading prohi
bitiOn advocate, announced that h
would support the hands of the pres
ident" and yield to the request for de
L ferring action upon beer and wines.
: Uphold Vice President.
Following a parliamentary tangl
over precedence of various prohibition
proposals, the senate also voted, 55 t
20, to sustain a ruling by Vice Presi
dent Marshal that, before the Gore an
Robinson amendments should be vote
on, the senate should first dispose O
. a ''bone dry" amendment by Senate
= Curtis of Kansas, virtually identica
= with the original house provision.
To straighten out the parliamentar
snarl, the senate afterward, withou
a reord vote, adopted Senator Curtis
amendment, which merely rearrange
|. and perfected the house text for "bon
: dry prohibition.
;. That placed the revised house Pre-
9 vision in position for further amend
= ment, either by approval of the Cor
h amendment, the Robinson substitute O
g others held in readiness by severe
senator's.
e Senator Gronna of North Dakot
d urged national "bone-dry" Legislation
n cOntending that President Wilson's pC
n sition was a mistaken one.
h Senator Vardaman declared that hi
reasons for supporting prohibitio
It were to conserve food and save tn
/, race"
b Senator Sterling, declaring his SUI
port of the house prohibition section
declared:
"A bread riot is more to be feare
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