Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-28
BONE Dry MEASURE
PASSED BY u, S. CONGRESS
1roncad Barrier Raised Against Importing Liquor into
Prohibition States-Only Three Southern States
Now in Dry Column

Washington, Feb. Absolute
prohibition legislation took its long
est forward stride in the nations his
tory to-day when the House, after
two hours Of uproarious debate, APP
proved by a four-to-one majority q
Senate measure which would raise an
ironclad barrier against importation
or liquor into prohibition States. 1t
is expected to receive the approval of
President Wilson within a week,
adding Immediately to the "bone
dry territory about one-third Of con-
tinental United States.
Far-Reaching Effect.
Tlfe provision is regarded as the
most far-reaching that could be en-
acted by the Federal government, and
as sweeping as would be possible un-
der any method short of a national
prohibition amendment. 1t would cut
off entirely liquor importations,
amounting now 10 millions of dollars
annually into the large number OF
States which have forbidden manu-
facture or sale, but have permitted
importation for personal use.
Noisy Demonstration.
Advocates of prohibition divided
themselves over the eXpediency Of the
step, some friends of the cause de-
claring so drastic law would have
reactionary effect. In the same
way those who have opposed prohi-
bition were not unanimous in opposi-
ton when the vote was taken. The
roll call brought cheers and cries Of
bone dry" from all parts Of the
House, however, and the result was
!, Il r,tr
The vote as officially announced
was 321 to 70, but rccheck Of the
rol! changed it to 319 to 70. Party
lines were completely broken down,
and numerous Representatives from
prohibition States were recorded in
the negative. So large a vote seldom
is recorded on any measure.
Bar the Liquor Ads.
A provision barring liquor adver-
tisements from the mails in States
that prohibit such advertising is in
cluded in the measure, which came
before the House as rider to the an
nual post office appropriation bill, in
serted by the Senate last week on
motion of Senator Reed, by a vote of
80 to II. Although the appropria-
ton bill will go to conference because
the House disagreed to other Senate
amendments, there is little possibility
that the prohibition amendment, con-
CURED in without change. will be al
tered. Members Of Congress are TAX
ing it for granted that President Will
son will approve 1t.
Effective When Signed.
Although some members have given
it as their opinion that the Legislative
features added to the postal bill
would not be effective until July /,
the effective date Of the appropria-
ton it carries. Senators and Repre-
sentatives who are considered author
tiles said tonight that all the legisla-
tive riders, including the Reed pro-
hibition amendment, undoubtedly
would become operative as soon as
the President has signed the measure.
Dry Advocates Jubilnnt.
Dry advocates were jubilant to-
night. Representative Webb, Of
North Carolina, father Of the resolu-
ton for national prohibition
amendment declared the Overwhelm-
ing Affirmative vote that killed the.
States rights argument, and that the
national amendment, already report
ed favorably, certainly would pass
the House this session. The national
legislative committee Of the Anti-Sa-
loon League issued a statement say
ing to-day's action had cleared the
decks for the national amendment.
Brewers Are Pleased.
Many Of the wet advocates in Con-
gress. particularly those with brew
ers among their constituents. also de-
clared themselves much pleased with
the outcome. The brewers are un-
derstood to have been in favor of the
provision, both because it would cur
| tail the so-called mail order business
carriedNpn by houses dealing in spir-
| ituous liquors, and because it might
prevent States now wet from going
dry and indefinitely postpone nation
wide prohibition.
Whiskey dealers, on the other
hand, were vigorously opposed to the
measure.