The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-18
Thirty-Five States Have Ratl-
fed National Prohibition
Amendment.
THREE MORE EXPECTED
TO ACT TO-DAY
LIQUOR and Saloon Organizations
Are Rallying Their Forces
for a Desperate Fight.


af a5 states-one less than the re-
sonfrea three ee-fourths-have ratified
the prohibition constitutional amend
ment. Several State assemblies no"
In session are expected to take action
tomorrow with probable race be-
tween Nebraska. Missouri and Mime
sota as to which will be the 36th on
: the list.
Ratification was completed today by
the legislatures Of five Ssates-lowa,
Colorado, Oregon, New Hampshire ana
1-ta;.-,nakine total Of u in two
davs. OF the 35 States that have
taken ection, only IA have certihea
their action to the fedora! State de-
nartment They are Virginia, Ken
tucl.y, North Dakota, South Carolina,
MARYLAND, South Dakota. Texas, Mon
tana, Delaware, Massachusetts,. AriZ-
ona. Georgia, Louisiana and Michigan.
The amendment under its provisions
becomes effective one year from the
date Of the final ratification. Addi-
tionai legislation by congress is neces-
sary to make it operative and
ground work for this already has been
penalties for violation Of the amend
nent, determine how and by what
agencies the law shall be enforced.
If ratication is completed this
month, many officials here believe the
country viii become permanently
ssdry" next July L., the date or which
the special war time prohibition re-
Gently enacted by congress goes into
effect. This law prevents the manu-
facsnre and sale of intoxicants for
beverage purposes and remains in
yorcei until the denaobilization Of the
nations war armies is completed.
Court action to preventive amend
1nent becoming Operative already has
been started in California. where an
order temporarily restraining Gov
sernor Stephens from signing ratiflca-
fion of the amendment has been OBJ
tanned. It has been intimated 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 q
Referendum.
The prohibition amendment .esclu-
ten passed by congress provides that
qualifications shall be by the iegisla-
lures of the several States as provid-
ed by the constitution"
The resolution follows:
Resolved, by the senate and house
Of Representatives of the United
States; Of America in congress assem-
bled ftwo-thirds of each house con-
curing therein), That the follow
ing amendment to the constitution be,
and hereby is, proposed to the States,
TO become valid as part Of the con-
stitution when ratified by the legis-
latures: OF the several States as pro-
Vided by the constitution:
Section l. After enc year from the
ratification. of this article the manu-
facture, sale or transportation Of in
toNicating liquors within, the impor-
tation thereof into, or the expectation
thereof from the United States and all
territory subject to the jurisdiction
thereof, for beverage purposes ;s here
BY prohibited
Sec 2. The congress and the sew
eral States shall have concurrent pow
er TO enforce this article by appro-
pirate legislation.
Sec. 8. This article shall be un-
operative unless it Shall have 3een
ratified as an amendment TO the con-
stitution by the legislatures of the sev-
eTal States as provided in the cons,i
tuition within seven years from the
date Of the submission hereof to the
States by congress-
The resolution was passed by the
senate. 65 to 20. on August I. 1917.
and by the house. 2S2 to 12S. on De-
cember Il. 1917. Mississippi was the
first State to ratify the amendment, its
legislature acting on January s, 1918.
Sacramento. Cal. Jan. 14.-"Cai-
fornfa ranks among the States that
have already ratified the consression-
al prohibition resolution and can bo
included among the number neceS-
sary to make the required three
tourths of the States without further
official action" United States At
torney General Webb said here today
in discussing the writ Of injunction
issued IN San Francisco to restrain the
governor lTOll1 certify IllS " t!le ldli-
fcation:
81 think the action of the leg;s!a-
sure was final," he said. And be-
lieve it is immaterial whether the
United States government is notified
officially Of the action. I believe the
congressional amendment to the fed
eral constitution would automatically
become effective upon ratification by
IS States, regardless Of whether the
United States government was Off
cialiy notified"
Mr. Webb said it was his opinion
that Governor Stephens could. if he
decided to do so, certify to the pas
sage Of the resolution and ignore the
writ Of prohibition.
San Francisco, Jan. 15.-Following
the obtaining here yesterday Of an
order temporarily restraining Gov.