New-York tribune., 1918-04-24

wanes and beers would probably be
exempted under that measure has been
! widely circulated through the news
papers of the state. AS Senator Well
lnrgton IS an advocate of ratification,
the. purpose of this statement is to
make people believe that even though
the amendment is adopted they will
wines.
The Mooted Amendment
There is absolutely no ground for
the claim that national prohibition will
exempt light wines and beers. The
LANGUAGE OF the amendment is very
clear, as it provides as follows:
Article, Section latter one year
from the ratification of this article
the manufacture, sale or transporta-
ton OF Intoxicating liquors within, the
Importation thereof into, OR the ex-
portation thereof from the United
states and territory subject to the
jurisdiction thereof for beverage pur-
poses is hereby prohibited'
The courts Of the states and the Su-
preme Court of the United States have
keld that beer and wine containing
aicohol are Intoxicating liquors, and if
the amendment is adopted it will apply
to all forms of alcoholic beverages.
The Supreme Court of the United
States has held that q state has power
to enforce laws fning or imprisoning
farmer who crushes grapes of his
c"n growing and makes wine. As Con-
gress and the states have concurrent
power under the proposed amendment
10 enforce it by, appropriate legisla-
tion, 1t follows that even If the New
York Legislature should exempt beer
and wines the Anti-Saloon League
through its power with Congress, could
nullify the action of this state.
1t should be distinctly understood
tnat the amendment makes no exemn.
tlon OF beers and wines, and that if
the New York State Legislature votes
Tor ratification it is voting for "bonr
dry prohibition for the 100000 citi-
zens of this state.
GEORGE w. SWEENEY,
Chairman Hotel Asso. of New York
Be warned by the example of
Russia, comes the clarion cry from
Chicago. If America would be easy
prey to the Kaiser's legions, then
by all means let us have prohibition.
Our soldiers without booze would
soon be fraternizing with their Teu-
tonic comrades equipped with that
convlvlal commodity, predicts Robert
II. Lanyon. Let US be warned by
vodka! But read on:
10 the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir: You say "The Tribune is for abso-
lutte prohibition" and my comment on
that is that 1T is very fortunate for this
Hatlon that 1t is not with YOU on this
matter, because if it were, and the Cen
tral Powers we're not for absolute pro-
hioltlon also, the sooner this nation
lays down its arms the same as Russia
did, the less the losses of life and
money, and the better the chances for
peace of some kind.
You yourself admit that "absolute
prob ibition of all alcoholic beverages
would be such an adventure in human
restraint as has never been attempted
in the modern world, save in Russia y
agree with you on this proposition.
absolutely, and will cite you two or
three happenings in Russia since the
Czar, by edlct, enforced absolute pro-
hlbltlon in that country: First, his
people were SO grievously affected bv
CHS edlct that they very soon banished
the Gar, IN the same manner he ban
ished vodka
Here. Comrade. Is Vodka!
Then began the determination of the
Husslan and German soldiers at the
front. German leaders showed their
usual logic and cunning when they
reasoned that an army of Russians
whose alcoholic stimulants had been
prohibited for year or so. would be
an easy mark for German soldiers, who
were and could be plentifully supplied
with enticing and intoxicating ttimu-
iants; and you will find that the So
called "fraternization" of Russian and
German troops on the Eastern front
was inaugurated and kept alive by the
free use of Intoxicating drinks by the
German soldiers. You know psrfectly
we'll that this sort Of conAhiality
everywhere breeds spirit of good fei
iowshp, and these soldiers naturally
forgot all about killing each other
under such circumst tanccs.
can imagine the grin of satisfaction
which came over the Kaiser's features
when he heard of Cousin Nick" BAN
lshlng vodka ;and a similar smile will
pervade his countenance whenever he
hears that the United States has com
mitted itself to an equally foolish
policy. ROBERT II. LANYON.