The sun., 1919-02-20
FIGHT FOR BEER.
BEGUN BY VETS
Walker-McEliigott Resolution
to Ask Resembling Of Dry
Ratification.
WINE SALE TO BE URGED
Prohibition May Hamper Coy
eminent Loan, Legislature
Is Warned.
spociai pnsrafch TO THs sus.

ALBANY, Feb. ie.--As the forerunner
to the vigorous night 20 be wased TO
force through the present Legislature
law which will permit continued sale
In New York state OF light wines and
beer resolution resembling the ac-
tion Of the Legislature In ratifyins the
FEDERAL prohibition amendment will be
introduced tomorrow by Senator James
J. Walker and Assembiyman Peter p.
McElligott OF New York.
The vets in the Senate and Assem-
bly, plan campaign TO harass the
Anti-Saloon League and prohibition
forces until the big hearing on the pro-
hibit,on enforcement measure Is held
next Wednesday. A few days later. IL Is
believed. the real pet project OF the vets
Will be cautiously submitted to the
Legislature in the form OF bill de-
signed to permit tho sale of liquors
which DO not contain more than az or 4
per cent OF alconol.
Bars WIN ne Closed.
Advocates Of the legislation declare II
viii be carefully framed 30 as to shut
out saloons and do away with hotel bars,
but that nevertheless hotels will be per-
mitted to sell drinks OF the designated
strength withsmeals.
1t is probable. too. that next week will
see the introduction OF a still "wetter"
bill permitting the sale OF beer and
wines and even champagne. but shutting
out saloons and hotel bars, and imposing
a heavy tax on those who sell the pro-
posed liquors Assemblyman Clarence
Welsh Of Albany 10 working on this
measure.
The resolution TO have the Legislature
reverse itself on ratification surprised
every one, even some OF the vets
The reason for the introduction of
this resolution" Assemblyman McElli-
gott declared. is to give the Legislature
n chance upon sober second thought 10
consider the action taken. am con-
WINGED that several members of both
houses II they had the thing to do over
would vote differently now than they
did"
The resolution declares that many in
habitants of the State regard said reso-
luton as a presumptious curtailment OF
their personal liberty, the moderate use
OF intoxicating liquors for beverage pur-
poses being usual among all classes and
lively few persons whose intemperance
may be corrected by means otherwise
provided by law. business, industry and
social intercourse.
Much Unemployment Feared.
THAT the enforcement of prohibition
Will throw out OF life employment many
thousands of workers In the liquor and
allied trades al "A time when our soldiers
and sailors honorabiy discharged from
service abroad are returning to civil life
without prospect Of employment through
the adaptation of women to their occu'
pations in their absence. -
"That further restrictive legislation
Federal or State, on the subject. may in.
duce industrial strikes and n refusal &c
the Government
Therefore. be II resolved. IL the Sen.
ate concur, that the above recited con
current resolution be and Il hereby I,
repealed, rescinded and annulled; and
be 1t further
Resolved, II the Senate concur, thai
the Legislature OF the State OF New
York refuses to ratity the above reciteG
proposed amendment of the Constitution
OF the United States and wlthdraws alb
solutely any expression of consent here
tofore given thereto or ratification there
Of; and be It further
"Resolved, II the Senate concur tina
the Governor be requested to transmit {
copy Of this resolution and preamble e
the Secretary of State OF the United
Sates at Washington and to every mem
her OF the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives OF the United States and tn,
Governors of the several States"
According to Assemblyman McEIligott
the Republicans furnished precedent To-
ruch a resolution. The Democratic Legis
lature In 1911 approved the income ia,
amendment, but year later when tn,
Assembly was Republican Harold J
Human of Albany offered n resolution
TO rescind the action taken on the sub
3ect. This was passed by the Assembl,
hut the Senate, which still was Demo
cratic, refused to concur.