New-York tribune., 1919-07-04
Challenge Veto
OfNe,U Dry Act
Leaders Fight to Keep
Dual Cod e Against
MondeWs Opposition
New York Tribune
Wash IN atom Ejtrecgi

V0SN T0t0N bureau
WASHINGTON. July 3.-President
Wilson was challenged by dry" leaders
in Congress to-day to- veto legislation
for the enforcementa of wartime and
national prohibition. At the same time
it was announced that the "drys" will
clash with Majority Leader Mondell
on his demand that the two enforce
ment codes be separated before they
are considered by the House.
Chairman Volstead, of the House
Judiciary Committee, said the codes
would not be separated under any cir
cumstancc and that he would 20 be-
fore the Rules Committee when the
House reconvenes and ask q special
rule to make the omnibus bill in orde +
at once. He said he had no hope that
the bill would be considered before
Thursday.
"The published statement to-day that
prohibition leaders in Congress are
apprehensive lest the President veto
the, proposed enforcement code is
nothing more than brewers propa-
ganda," said Representative Gilbert A.
Currie, of Michigan, member of the
Judiciary Committee. "No matter
what personal views the President NAV
entertain, he will not be so unwise, after
he has been in the United States a few
hours, as to attempt to make national
prohibition farce. Congress will go
forward with its task to provide for
the enforcement of national prohibi-
ton. The President cannot influence
or prevent its full accomplishment.
He should not try"
To Bring Pressure to Bear
"Wets" said strong pressure would be
brought to bear on the President to
veto the enforcement bill if it is passed
with provisions defining Intoxicating
liquors. They admitted there was
little possibility that he would veto
the bill on any other score. Mr.. VOL
stead said the President would place
himself an embarrassing position if
he decided to veto bill designed to
enforce constitutional amendment
and the war prohibition bill. which he
had previously signed.
Representative Curre defended the
drastic terms of the omnibus bill, and
asserted that no attempt to amend
them would prevail in either House.
This bill is no more drastic than
the statutes of over thirty prohibition
states and other dry areas, consttut-
ing 80 per cent of the nations terri
tory" he said. "The outlawing of the
traffic in intoxicating liquors by the
government of the United States repre-
sents the greatest moral development
recorded in centuries. The President
will not seek to cancel this reform"
The sentiment against including the
one-half of one per cent definition in
the enforcement bill seemed to be
gaining ground in the lower house to-
day. There was little likelihood that
sufficient could be mustered to defeat
1T on its original passage. If the
President did veto lhe bill on this
score, however, it is probable that
more thar. oAe-.hird Of the House
would hold out against the repassage
unless the definition were eliminated
To Halt Discussion Quickly
Mr. Volstead said he expected the
omnibus bill to be passed by the House
on Saturday, July ~. He will ask
that general debate on the measure be
limited to four hours and that the bill
be discussed under the five minute rule
thereafter. This programme will be
opposed by the vets, but Mr.. Volstead
said he would call for the previous
question, with the support of the dry
majority, about o'clock Saturday
afternoon. A vote will come shortly
after the previous question is ordered,
despite wet opposition.
The "whlskey interests" have started
a propaganda, MIR. Volstead said, in an