Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-30
SOME REFLECTIONS ON
THE EVE OF THE DROUGHT
Doubt Whether the Nation viii Go Dry
Tonight or Wait Until
Next January

Next January
THE wartime prohibition act of
November p. 1918, goes into effect at
midnight 1t is worth while at this time
considering the terms of that act.
One should note, in the first place, that
the President signed it ten days after the
armstice was agreed upon. This is i'm
portant in view of the purpose for which
the act was passed
That purpose, as set forth in the act
itself, was to conserve the man-power
| of the nation and to increase efficiency III
! the production of arms, munitions, ships,
| food and clothing for the army and
navy In order to accomplish these ends
! it was provided that after June 80 of this
year it should be unlawful to sell for bev-
erage purposes any distilled spirits or
any "beer, wine or other intoxicating
malt or vnous liquor" These prohibit
tions were to continue until the conclu-
sion of the present war and thereafter
until the termination of rehabilitation,
the date of which shall be determined
and proclaimed by the President"
1t is evident, from the date on which
the law was passed, that Congress did
not consider the war ended by the sign
ing of the armstice, and it is also evi-
dent that it did believe that demobliza-
ton could not be terminated until after
the war was ended.
The need of conserving the man-power
of the nation in order to provide soldiers
for the army has long since passed; and
it is no longer necessary to increase eff
cheney in the production Of munitions of
war. for the production Of such things
has been stopped for months. But the
law will go into effect tomorrow, in spite
of the fact that the President recon-
mended its modification several weeks
| ago.
Congress has not seen fit to repeal it,
nor has it seen fit to modify its provisions
! in any respect whatsoever. The extreme
prohibitionists are at the present mo-
ment seeking to bring about permanent
national prohibition to date from July /.
To do this they will have to assume the
power of saying when the war was
I brought to a close. At the present time
opinions differ on that question. 1t is
reported from Washington that some of
the law officers of the administration hold
that the war will not he legally ended
until the peace treaty is ratified by the
Senate. Others insist that the war
ended when the armistice was signed.
But those who hold the contrary view
have only to cite the language of the
wartime prohibition act to bring con-
fusion upon their opponents.
As to the time of the termination of
Hl,,t =. Co. tha la,,T
to decide for himself upon the facts as
they exist. He has announced that as
soon as the War Department advises him
that the army is demobilized he will act
under the terms of the law. He evidently
assumes that the war was ended by the
signing of the treaty and that wartime
prohibition is to cease when the army is
put on a peace footing.
The confusion is increased by the un-
certainty regarding what is an intoxi-
eating malt or vnous liquor. The prose
cutting officers of the government in this
city have announced that they will await
a court decision before prosecuting sa-
loonkeepers who sell beer with 2A pei
cent of alcohol and the prosecuting off.
GERS in New York say they will regard
such beer and light wines as nonintoxi
eating until the courts decide otherwise
And some of the courts have held that
it is not for them but for Congress tt
define an Intoxicating beverage.
The liquor dealers are most naturally
charging that they have not been treated
fairly. When the prohibition amend
ment was under consideration they were
told that it would not go into effect unit
twelve months after its ratification. A!
a matter of fact, it is specifically pro
vided in the amendment itself that thu
liouor dealers shall have year in which
to adjust themselves to the change. Th'
, members of Congress who wish to keel
faith are urging the repeal of the war
time prohibition act, as it is no ionge
necessary in order to win the war, u
conserve food or to discourage the use O
Intoxicating drinks by war workers. Ye
it is reported from Washington that ther
are many congressman who would Ike t,
vote for repeal, but hesitate to do so fo
: fear of political reprisals by the advo
Gates of prohibition.
| These men may take courage, now tha
the President has spoken, and repeal tn
t act forthwith.
But the problem will not be solve'
when the wartime prohibition act is dis
posed of. There remains the enforce
ment of the constitutional amendment
, That amendment forbids the manufac
: ture, sale or transportation of intoxicat
o ing liquors "for beverage purposes
within the United States or the imp6rta
: ton of such liquors into the country o