Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-12-26
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Supreme Court Deals Hard Blow
to the Vets and They Stand
Up to Get Another.
NOW ATTACKING AMENDMENT
Attorney General Palmer Persuades
Me Packers to Abandon Their Side
Lines-Fiume Agreement Blocked
by D'Annunzio's Troops-GroW-
ing Sentiment for Peace
Treaty Compromise.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

Like real tragedy to great many
citizens of the United States was the
chief event of the past week-the deci-
sion of the Supreme court of the Unit
ed States upholding the constitutional
ity of the wartime prohibition act.
1t was a severe blow not only for the
men who hoped to renew their fast
dwindling supplies of private stock"
before January 16, when the constitu-
tional prohibition amendment goes in
to effect, and to the dealers who had
hoped for chance to dispose of their
vast stores of liquors, but also to many
banks that had made loans on whisky
certificates totalling perhaps $100,000,-
600. It was estimated that the govern
ment would lose in taxes about $780,
100000, and that the loss in physical
value of plants and other property
would be $2OO,0OO00O. The total was
roughly put at a billion and a half
of dollars.
The cases decided were those of the
Kentucky Distilleries and Warehouse
company of Louisville. KY, and Dry
foos, Blum & Co. of New York, insti-
tuted for the purpose of compelling
the government to release whisky
from bond.
In both cases the court denied con-
tentions of Elihu Root and other at
torneys for the distilleries that the act,
in violation Of the constitution, takes
private property without just compen-
sation; that the period of the war
emergency, for which the act was
passed, had terminated; that the law
was an interference with the state po.
lice powers and an undue exercise OF
the war powers of congress.
The wartime act the court held, is
not confscatory, asserting that more
than seven months were given distil.
| lers to dispose of their stocks, which
! time the court believed to be adequate
| The act also was not repealed, the
court held, by the prohibition constitu
tional amendment, which, it asserted
is binding not only in peace, but also
in war times.
The vets did not give up all hope
but at once went to work on new
lines, previously prepared" The Re
tail Liquor Dealers association of New
| Jersey and the state of Rhode ISlan(
both asked the Supreme court for per
mission to institute original proceed
ings to have the national prohibition
| amendment declared unconstitutional
and to enjoin federal officials from
enforcing it. Rhode Island is one o
the states that did not ratify tn
amendment, and the present actor
was taken by direction of the legisla
ture. These attacks on the amendmen
are based on the allegation that
violates the fifth amendment to tn
constitution, which prohibits the tax
ing Of private property without jus
compensation, and also on the charg
that it is an interference with tn
state police powers.
Another attempt to repeal the wal
time prohibition law was made in cor
gress, but the house agriculture con
mittee reported unfavorably on the bi
by a vote Of 16 to 8. Representativ
Rainey Of Illinois made the only argl
ment for repeal, urging that the we
period should be allowed, so the pei
sons Of small means could lay in
stock of liquor for medicinal pul
poses, and the government could co
lect $5O,OOO,OOO in revenue taxes.
Ever since he assumed the offlc
Of attorney general, Mr.. Palmer ha