New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
Vets Beaten in Fight to
Amend First Section
of Volstead Measure
Defining lntoxicants
"Liuuors'' i'm Bill
Made ssBeverages''
Representative Callivan
Says Many Members
Have 20 Years Supply
Ne,o York Tribune
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, JGly 14.--Drys In the
House to-day rode roughshod over the
vets In attempts to denature the Vol
stead prohibition bill by amendment.
When the House adjourned tonight,
after turbulent session, consideration
Of the first section of title /, contain
ing the vital definition of Intoxicating
liquors, stood unchanged except for
amendments slightly perfecting It's
language. Vets concede that Donor
row will bring no better success.
First attempts of the vets to amend
we're blocked by drys In raising points
Of order. The drys were led by Chair
man Volstead; Representatives Blan-
ton, of Texas, and Barkley, of Ken
tucky. 1t was late in the afternoon
before the vets even got vote.
q The first test followed an hours de-
bate on a motion by Representative
Dyer to insert 2sx per cent in place Of
ticn Of an Intoxicating liquor. From
that time on the vets were beaten
again and again by rising votes by
majority Of nearly two to one. They
carried only one slight. amendment,
and that apparently because the drys
became confused in the hubbub as to
its meaning
Amendments Offered
The amendments offered were:
1-Representative Igoe, of Missouri,
moved to repeal Section l of Title !.
the wartime prohibition provision, so
as to strike out the dry definition of an
Intoxicating liquor. Representative
Volstead objected that the amendment
was not germane, and after long ar
gument the chair ruled in favor of Mr..
Nolstead and the amendment died on
point of order.
Representative Gard. of Ohio.
moved to amend the wartime act by
eliminating the dry definition and per-
rltting the President to end wartime
prohibition when he thought the war
no Longer demanded it. Mr.. Volstead
and Mr.. Blanton objected, and the
chair sustained them
3-Representative Gard moved an
amendment permitting the President
to allow the sale Of light wines and
Peer when he thought demobilization
was sufficiently near an end. This
died.
Avn -CSSuColINc CltStc. Ql IeUuSFt-
sania. moved to amend 80 that the
President could construe the words
Until the conclusion of the present
war and thereafter until the termina-
non Of rehabilitation" to mean when
ne felt II no longer necessary to pro-
hibit the sale Of liquors to conserve
man power and increase the food sup
ply. This died on point Of order.
Dvar,s Nation Loot
b-Representative Dyer then moved
70 define an Intoxicating liquor as one
containing con more than TX per cent al
echol, and, following an hours debate,
lost on a division, 80 to 151.
From that time on the steam roller
moved swiftly. Amendments were voted
On as fast az offered without debate.
Excluding minor perfecting amend
nents, these went in this fashion:
!. Representative Lee, Of California,
moved an amendment permitting the
esle OF wines with more than IL per
: cent alcohol. 1t died on a point of
order raised by Representative Blanton.
u. Representative Igoe moved TO
strike out the dry definition of alco-
nol content in intoxicants. Lost 90 to
3. Representative Benson, of Mary
Ae vets carried. The drys seemed con-
!osed, and in the melee the House voted,
to 70, TO substitute the word "bev-
asges' for the word "liquors" in the
eennition Of an intoxicRnt. The amend
aent viii not help the vets.
Dry Definition Retained.
a. Representative Pell, Of New York,
Ioved sn amendment to strike out the
~ definition and leave 1t to a jury to
pesernine when a liquor is intoxi-
saIng. Representative Blanton OBJ
Eseted and was overruled while the
nouse booed him down and yelled for
vote. This amendment lost, rs to
%; :; Representative Longworth, Of
vn'o' 70 end the misery Of the drys,
EoSed TO strike out all Of Section Of
ms lost. 80 70 129, and the House
'9x up the second section.
representative Galiiyan, Of New
~h' nsntAned the gloom of the dry
~ sse late in the day by attacking the
nsgsd dry sentiment OF Congress-.
lne country has been told that Con-
1ess Is overwhelmingly dry" he said.
nsys bcsn in Congress since 1914.
ad i have found 1t oyerwhelminely
~ 4 am told that many members Of
- house have their cellars 40 wsll
Scxsd that they are prepared for
wsnty years nf drouth."
- Fame themi Name them!" the
aye demanded in an uproar.
II tney weren't good fellows would
sme them" he replied. "Most Of
sssn are en- the Republican side, how