The Washington times., 1919-07-14
BEGIN WAR TOLIFT
BEER AND WINE BAN
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16, when the 18th amendment, provid-
| ing for national prohibition, goes into
effect. In the twelve-hour debate on
this bill. which ended in the House
Saturday afternoon. it was manifest
that sentiment has become strong for
repeal of wartime prohibition so far
as it affects wine and beer.
Promises Of Votes.
Leaders in the antiprohibition
movement declared today that they
had received promises of enough
votes to repeal wartime prohibition
by amending the bill to authorize the
President to lift the ban Immediately
upon beer and wines. They said that
this amendment, which would prevent
the sale and manufacture of whisky
during the period of rehabilitation,
was supported by a number Of So
called advocates Of national prohibit
ton. The latter are favorable to 1t
because in the fight waged by them
for national prohibition they spe-
officially promised that a year would
be given after the amendment was
ratified for the manufacturers and
dealers to dispose of their supply.
These men say they want to keep
their word ana do not believe as
some of the more ardent prohibition
lists have said that the situation was
changed by the enactment of the
wartime prohibition law subse-
quently.
In case the vets fail to force a par
tial repeal of wartime prohibition
their next fight will be made 10
Ill - inf
cant which the bills define as any
beverage containing more than one
half of one per cent of alcohol.
An amendment will be offered by
the vets striking out the definition
entirely and delegating the duty OF
determining what an intoxicant is
to the courts.
Process Of ELIMINATION.
A similar amendment will be Of
fered when Title II is reached deal
ing with the enforcement OF national
prohibition. This title will be sub
jected to a rapid fire of amendments,
most of which will be to eliminate
apparent unnecessary drastic prOvi-
sions. The section which authorizes
a railroad conductor to arrest any
man who drinks on the train or Of
fers q stimulant to q fellow-passen-
ger, will be amended so as to permit
a passenger handing his flask to
fellow traveller who might need the
contents for medicine.
This section is perfectly ridicu-
lous," said Congressman George S.
Graham, Of Pennsylvania, a member
of the Judiciary Committee. 1T is
against all decency and might work
out fatally to many a traveller. The
section ought to be amended so as to
permit whiskey being used as a medi-
cine on the trains when the necessity
appears actually to exist. l think that
the alcoholic contents ought to be
more liberal" added Mr.. Graham.
However, I do not agree with many
of my colleagues that Congress does
not have the power to define what an
intoxicant is. The act says that
liquors shall be prohibited and there
fore Congress should define what is
prohibitive. Perhaps it would be bet
ter for the court to decide but that
is matter of Judgment.
Nov that the people have voted for
through the legislatures
we ought to have rigid and sane laws
enacted to enforce the mandate of the
people and the law should be one that
would appeal to the reason OF the
masses rather than one that is so
drastic as to cause a reaction and per-
haps make the law a farce.
IF there is reaction against the
law ii will be in the power OF an
other Congress to amend the enforce
ment act and, IL IL desires, the dehni- |
ton Of what is prohibited and what |
Is intoxicating can be llberalized."