The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-01-17
SO STATES RATIFY
DRY AMENDMENT
Two More Than Needed to
Enforce Prohibition.
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 10, 1920
pistiIIers, With BiIlion-DoIIar Fund,
Plan to Test Constitutionalty in
Twenty-Five States-Want Refer
endum

endum.
Washington. Jan. 17.--By the vote
of the Nebraska legislature the prohl-
bition amendment became a part OF
the United States constitution.
Before the day ended the legisla-
lures of Missouri and Wyoming voted
for ratification, making thirty-eight
states, or two more than the three
fourths vote Of the states necessary.
The amendment will become effect
i've January 16, 1920, after which date
1t will be unlawful to manufacture,
sell, transport or export intOXicants
for beverage purposes.
A last desperate effort is being
made by a national committee of dis
tillers to defeat the amendment by
ats cking the right of legislatures in
the twenty-five states having the ref
erendum to ratify amendments to the
federal constitution. The committee
is to meet in New York January %
to adopt a line of action, but dry
leaders declare there is no fear as
to the validity of the ratification.
Congress finally passed the resolu-
ton submitting the amendment on
Devember II, 1917, when the house
voted for it, 2S2 to 12S, the senate
having passed it August 1 by vote
of Go to 90
Fifteen states ratified the amend
mpnt in 1913. Mississippi holding the
place of honor at the head of the
list.
States which ratified the amend
ment previously were: Alabama, Ari-
IONA. Arkansas. California, Colorado,
Delaware. Florida. Georgia. Idaho. Illi-
noiS. Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana. Maine, Maryland. Massa-
chusetts. Michigan. M;Ssippi, Montana,
North Dakota. North Carolina. New
Hampshire. Ohio. Oklahoma. Oregon,
South Carolina. South Dakota. Ten
nessee. Texas. Utah. Virginia, Wash
In@ton and West Virginia.
Eleven states have not taken final
action They are Minnesota, Nevada,
New Jersey. New Mexico, New York,
land, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Additional legffislaticn by congress
Is necessary TO make the amendment
operative Ground work for this al
readv has been laid.
This legislation Will prescribe pen
alticS for violation of the amendment
and determine how and by what agen-
cies tho law shall be enforced
4 distillers' commitrCe. through
Levy Mayer. chief of their counsel,
announced that in twenty-five states
the constitutions require a referen.
dun vote Of citizens to ratify con.
stitttional amendment. Mr.. Mayer
names these states as follows
South Dakota, Oregon. Nevada, Mon,
tana. Oklahoma, Maine Mafyf5se.,, =
Michigan. Arkansas, Colorado. Ari-
zona. New Mexico, California, Ohio.
Nebraska, Washington. North Dakota,
Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas. Louisi.
ana and Utah.
In California, court action already
has been taken TO restrain the govern
Dr. from certifying the action of the
legislature to Washington.
Every resource Of the distillers with
81 900 100000 available, will be en-
ployed in the supreme effort TO save
their business, it is said. An import-i
ant meeting of the distillers' COM
mittee will be held at New York,
January %. when it is planned to
adnpt detailed program.
DRY" leaders say the dlstillers' at
tack was fereseen and that it is with
oui merit. Next Sunday a committee
from the suburb of Evanston, long the,
nome and headquarters of the late
Frances e. Willard, for many years
head of the Women's Christian Tenn
neranCe Union, will go to Rose Hill
cemetery to lay a wreath on the snow.
covered mound under which Miss Will
ards body reposes.