The Washington herald., 1919-02-13
RANDALL URGES
UNIFORM LAW
ANENT LIQUOR
Leader of "Dry" Forces in
House Objects to State
+. Rights.
'NOBEER, NO WORK ROT
Fight Will Be Staged
Against Commissioner Of
Prohibition Berth.

b. Congress, and not the individual
States, should and will define what
percentage Of alcoholic content con-
stitutes intoxicating liquor, according
to Representative Charles H. Randall,
OF California leader OF the dry
forces in the House who outlined the
program Of the prohibitionists in the
tonal amendment
"It would be absolutely illogical and
defeat the purpose Of the amendment
to have New York for example fix five
per cent as the standard and other
States define the amount of alcohol
beverages may contain before they
become intoxicating, according to
their individual view, unless they leg
islate upon a standard maximum" he
said.
Forecasting what he believes will be
the future program of the "drys' the
California representative declared
that a national Interpretation OF what
constitutes intoxicating liquor must
first be secured.
Wants Low Percentage.
Personally, l believe, that the
Revenue Bureau now operates. which.
I understand fixes any beverages con-
tanning more than one-half OF l per
cent Of alcohol as intoxicating is
about right" he declared. This ra-
ito Of alcoholic content was defined
some time ago for the purpose Of
facilitating the Bureau in the levy
ing of taxes.
However" added Randall. "I be-
lieve that the nation will define what
percentage Of alcoholic content con-
stitutes intoxicating liquor and the
various States will accept that as a
maximum standard in their legisla-
tion. They may go the nation one
better and be even stricter in their
Interpretation, but anticipate the ma
tionaf definition will be supreme and
they will keep within it's limits.
The no beer, or no work, propa-
sanda which has been started by Ia
Dor in New Jersey was characterized
BY the Representative as wet
buEaboO. Obviously II cannot amount
N anything serious for the very good
reason that there will be no legal
way to meet their demands after
IuIy !. There will be no beer avail
able after that date and since the
manufacture is prohibited by law how
can they expect to have their de-
Irands met They must admit that
there is no way to grant their de-
rnands without ignoring the Constitu-
ton
-Arksy Mythical.
sTodching upon the proposed estab-
Ifshment of "arks" beyond the smile
limit and the sale Of intoxicants on
the ocean Representative Randall de-
eIares it is a myth that makes pleas
ant reading for those who lament the
passing of John Barleycorn, but is
totally Impractical
To establish such floating bar
rooms as proposed necessarily means
the expenditure OF large sums Of
money and the establishment of GER
tain sources of supply" he said. You
will find that the men who have the
resources to establish such places will
not be encouraged by the prospects of
profit from the elements that would
patronize them"
Representative Randall made it plain
that the prohibitionists will not ap-
prove OF any commissioner of pro-
hibition with thousands of deputies
to enforce the new law.
The existing agencies of govern
ment can be logically expanded to
take care of the enforcement salts
factorily." he said. 1T would be plac-
ing too great a power in the hands of
one man OF men to create a commits
sioner of prohibition" he added. 'T
am opposed to such a measure and
agree with Secretary of the Treasury
Glass that the existing personnel of
the Internal Revenue Bureau should
~ tn
power in the enforcement of the law.
We do expect that the internal reve-
nue. work in the location of moonshin-
ers and Illicit stills should continue
and that the other details OF enforce
ment belong properly with the De-
paTtment of Justice. The proposed
commissioner of prohibition measure
opens the avenues to suspicion. graft
and administration, should cor
rupt officials be chosen, and am
strongly opposed to it for that rea-
SON.
No Search and Seizure.
The right of search and seizure is
a matter upon which the Prohibition
lists do not proposed to be insistent.
and they will be perfectly content to
have the legislation to be enacted for
the enforcement of the new law ig-
more it.
TO say that we propose the in
vasion of homes in search of contra
band is manifestly absurd" said Ran
dali Tt is a specioUs argument dis
criminately circulated by enemies OF
prohibition"
Representative Randall declared that
he expected no legislation on prohr-
bition during the present session or
Congress The regulations and penal
ties provided in the wartime prohibi-
ton measure, which is effective July
l. he believes, will Be. ample. to meet
the situation until Congress has had
time to consider what laws are