Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-16
So STATES
LINED UP
FOR BAN.
ON BOOZE
Ratification Will Be CIinChed
by Nebraska Today in Race
With Three Other Com
mOnWeaIthS.

Legislatures of IS states-one less
than the required three-fourths y
have ratified the prohibition consti-
tutional amendment. Several stare
assemblies now in session are ex.
pected to take action today with
probable race between Nebraska
Missouri, Minnesota and New Mex
leo as to which will be the thirty
sixth on the list.
Ratification was completed yester-
day by the legislatures of FIVE states
Iowa, Colorado, Oregon, New
Hampshire and Utah--making D
total of II in two days. OF the 81
states that have taken saction, only
IA have certified their action to the
federal state department.. They arc
Virginia, Kentucky, North Dakota,
South Carolina, Maryland, South
Dakota, Texas, Montana, Delaware,
Massachusetts,, Arizona, Georgia,
Louisiana and Michigan.
The amendment under its pro-
visions becomes effective one year
from the date of its final ratification.
Additional legislation by congress il
necessary to make it operative and
groundwork for this already has
been laid. This legislation will Pre-.
scribe penalties for violation Of ahe
amendment and determine how and
by what agencies the law shall bs
enforced,
May Become "Dry" July /.
If ratification IS completed this
month, many officials here believe
the country will become permanent
" dry" next July /, the date Oh
which the special wartime prohibi-
ton, recently passed by congress.
goes into effect, This law prevents
the manufacture and sale of intoxi-
cants for beverage purposes and re-
mains in force until the demobiIiza
ton of the nations war armies Is
completed.
Court action TO prevent the
amendments becoming operative ali
ready has been started in California.
where an order temporarily restrain-
ing Governor Stephens from sign
ing ratification os the amendment
has been obtained. 1t has been in
timated that similar action may BE-
taken in other states in which, it is
said, state laws require that federal
constitutional amendments must Be
submitted to a referendum.
Nebraska's Attitude Certain.
Nebraska made it's attitude GER
tain on the prohibition amendment
yesterday when it adopted house
resolution providing for ratification.
1t was the dramatic event Of the
day. In the galleries were al as-
sembly of the women of the w. &.
I. u, who sang a song whose REL
frain was "Ratify."
When the vote was taken on tile
measure it was practically unani-
nous. Those falling to vote were
absent. They were: Christensen.
Harriss and Noreen.
The recapitulation OF the vote
showed 90 for and none against.
Wildman of York explained his
vote by saying he was from the ST
lginal prohibition community 81 the
state, where the titles Of ali lots
sold in the city contained 4 pro
vision that no liquor should. Be sold
on the premises.
Representative Rodman explained
that his town, in Kiinball county
was a gateway from Colorado ara
Wyoming and during his adniinis-
tration as county attorney he lad
collected $4,000 as fines and from,
confscation of machines eng ued "A
the transportation Of contraband
whisky, but despite this dition FL
the school and federal funds BE wss
TOR the measure.
This action, however, does moi
complete ratification for Nebraska
FINAL action cannot come until to-
day, when the lower branch of tsc
assembly will vote on the ratifca-
ton resolution, which was pass
by the senate Tuesday. Tie senate
resolution was passed to third read
ms by the house yesterday and WIN
De taken up for a final vote 81
y a. ~ today.