Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-15
Votes FOR BOOZE
AND NOT BREAD
SENATE REvERsEs ITS POSITION
ION cUMMINs AMENDMENT
TO ESPIONAGE BILL.
ELIMINATES CLAUSE
FOR DRY NATION
Fears to Stop Manufacture of Liquors
From Grain Thru Fear of Unsettle.
ment Of Business conditions--oppo.
nents Declare Amendment Neither
Conservation Nor Prohibition Move
Special to es-Republlcan.

SptS!at "
Washington. May 15.--Reversing it's
action of Saturday, the senate late yes
terday struck from the administration
espionage bill the Cummins amend
ment prohibiting the use of cereals and
grain in the manufacture of liquor dur
ing the period of the war. The vote
was a. to 81.
The effort of Senator Overman to re-
insert the press censorship provision
in the bill was defeated by vote of
4S to "a.
The entire bill then was passed by
a vote of II to 6. The measure was
sent to conference Immediately. There
is only one principal difference between
the two houses, that being the censor
ship section. 1t is possible that if the
house again gets a chance to vote on
the censorship it will eliminate the
section.
How Change Came
The elimination of the Cummins
amendment from the bill was a COM
plete surprise. The amendment was
put in the bill by a vote of 3S to 30 on
anu although II was tNptSteu
that the liquor element would make
fight it was not expected that so many
senators who did not vote on Saturday
would vote Monday against the pro-
posai.
Neither was it thought that two SEN
ators Johnson of California and King
of Utah, who voted for prohibition on
Saturday. would change their votes and
vote against it.
The thirteen senators who did not
vote Saturday and who voted to strike
out the Curnmins amendment Were.
Borah. Colt, Culberson. Dillingham;.
Knox, Mclean, Newlands. salisbury.
Smith of Arizona. Smith of Maryland.
Thomas, Warren and Watson.
Two Issues Are Linked.
The majority OF those who favored
the press censorship section
in the bill opposed the Cummins
In other words. those who
favored gagging the press favored per-
hitting the breweries and distilieries
to consume grain I'm the manufacture
of liquor which might be used as food
In time when the shortage in food is
one OF the perilous factors in the war.
The vote on the Cummins amend
ment sounded the death kne1l of at
tempts to conserve grain by prohibit
ing as war measure. its use in the
manufacture Of liquor. Altho attempts
may be made later to revive the~sub-
ject. 1t is realized that the senate HAS
put itself on record as against national
prohibition.
Attack on Prohibition.
Senator King of Utah moved TO
strike out the Cummins amendment.
He was supported by Senators Under
wood and Husting. Senator Under
wood said it was neither a real con-
servation nor prohibition move. would
destroy immense revenue from beer.
and still leave immense quantities of
whisky in bond for beverage purposes.
Senator Cummins said he was not
alarmed over temporary loss of en-
ployment by those in breweries and
distilleries, which would haSe to close
II the amendment is retained.
I'VE ought to close this nefarious
enterprise, at least during the war"
said the Iowa senator.
Senator Reed declared the Cummins
amendment would destroy property
worth 100000. throw 100000
men out of employment. brighten capt.
tall and disturb business, all without
adequate time for proper consideration.
Some Drastic Provisions.
AS completed, the senate bills prin-
cipal sections provide:
Authority for the president to en-
barge exports when he finds that 1.-THE
public safety and welfare so require"
Not in the house measured
Authority for the postofflce depart
ment to censor mails and exclude mail
matter deemed seditious. anarchistic,
or reasonable. mot in the house bill
For punishment of espionage. defined
in most detailed terms, including
wrongful use Of military information.
For the control of merchant vessels
in American waters.
Punishment for conveyance of false
reports to interfere with l-nilitary OPP
erations, wiilfuI attempts to cause dis
affection in the military or naval forces
or obstruction Of recruiting.
For the seizure of arms and NUM-
tons and prohibition of their exporta-
ton under certain conditions
For penaliZing copspiracies designed
to harm American foreign relations or
for destruction >of property within the
United States.
euAkEluo ~ antrieA NA%xx