New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
Wilson Declines
To Interfere With
Full Prohibition
President Will Oppose the
Amendment Only if it De-
lays Agriculture Bill

WASHINGTON, June 10 Presi
dent Wilson is understood to have de.
clined to-day to interpose active on
position, for the present, at least. to
the Jones amendment to the S11,0O0,.
700 emergency agricultural appropria.
tlon bill providing for absolute pro.
hlbition during the war.
The President is said to have taken
the position that. while he would have
preferred precipitation of the prohibl-
ton question in separate legislation
ne would not at this time Interfere
IN the matter, or so long as it does not
mold up final enactment of the emer-
gency agricultural bill or other neces.
sary legislation. Should it interfere
with such legislation, it is understood
the President might step in and ask
that the amen dment be eliminated
Senator Smith, of South Carolina
acting chairman of the Senate Agri.
culture Committee, discussed the aues.
ton with the President at the White
aouse late to-day after Bainbridge
Colby, representing Chairman Hurley
of the Shipping Board, had offered Wig.
orous objection to absolute prohibition
at the hearing on the Jones' amend.
mcnt before the Agriculture Commit.
tee.
Mr.. Colby, who is member of the
Shipping Board, told the committee
tnat to take beer away from shipyard
employees would reduce their efficiency
and result in reduction of new shin
tonnage of about 25 per cent.
IN spite OF this opposition from an
important government agency, prohibi.
tlon leaders expressed confidence to.
night that the Jones' amendment would
be tavorably reported to the Senate
The committee will meet again to-mor.
row and Acting Chairman Smith hopes
to reach vote before the end of the
day.
Mr.. Colby said that because of the
urgent need for tonnage now in order
TO carry men and supplies to Europe
the Shipping Board is trying to make
i've as possible, and to increase the
335,00O men employed in the shipyards
now to 100000. There is constant
turnover in the shipyards and a shift.
ing of labor, he said, and the members
Of the board fear anything that might
tend to cause unrest among the work
men.
"Let US put our energy in convergine
our energy on the 'front.'" Mr.. Colby
pleaded. "Let's not attempt to reform
mems appetites. Let's fight now. It's
not teetotalers, but fighters we want
now"
Closing arguments in favor of prohi-
bition were made by William j. Bryan
who, replying to Mr.. Colby, declared
history showed labor is more efficient
without liquor than with 1t. He quoted
Premier Lloyd George as saying that
England was fighting Germany, Aus
tria and drink, with drink as the great
est enemy.
While favoring total prohibition. Mr.
Bryan said he believed a reasonable
time should be given for putting il
into effect.
In line with that opinion, he said, he
would recommend that production OF
Intoxicating liquors should be reduced
by percentages until the nation had
become dry.
A protest against the proposed meas.
ure from the heads of international
unions affiliated with the American
Federation Of Labor was presented by
Joseph Proebstle, of Cincinnati, gen
eral secretary of the United Brewery
and Soft Drink Workers.