The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-07-11
HARD LIQUOR CONE
BUT BEER REMAINS
Department of Justice Will Not
Oppose Sale of Light Wines
Either.
AWAIT COURT DECISIONS.
Will Decide on Course Of Action When
Courts Rule on 2s4 Per Cent. Beer.
Many Believe DemobiIization
Will Not Be Before January.

Washington.-The hour to which
prohibition forces have looked forward
for more than a half century struck at
midnight July 1.
The United States went "dry.'
For the first time in history one OF
the great nations began observance of
a law prohibiting the absolute manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
Prohibition, whether by statute or
constitutional amendment, ceased to be
a political or moral theory and became
an actuality. In the way the "dry'
period ushered in at midnight will have
something of the nature Of an expert
ment, a preparation for the permanent
prohibition to be realized through the
change in the organic law of the ma
ton.
Doubt relative to the course of the
federal government with reference to
the attempted sale of beer of not more
than 2A per cent. Of alcoholic content
and wines of similar alchoholic
strength was cleared by Attorney Cen
eral Palmer in formal statement out
timing the position of the department
Of justice.
"My course" said Mr. Palmer, "will
depend upon the rulings which will
soon be made by the district courts, in
which cases are now pending or in
which other cases may be brought.
81 have no power to grant amnesty
to any who may see fit to manufacture
or sell beer pending au authoritative
judicial construction Of the law, and L
am sure that brewers and dealers gen.
orally understand that the pendency of
litigation will be no protection against
prosecution for offenses under the
law"
This statement was taken to mean
that saloonkeepers and others selling
2A per cent. beer will not be arrested
for the present, but the fact that they
are not will imply no guarantee against
prosecution after the courts have de-
cided what percentage of alcohol con-
stituted Intoxicating liquor" Mr..
Palmer accorded no recognition to as
surances of some United States dis
trict attorneys who said the sale of
such beer will be permitted" or mot
molested." Any brewer or dealer elect
ing to sell such products must do SO In
the expectation of facing prosecution
If the courts hold 2A per cent. beer Is
an intoxicating liquor.
Attorney General Palmer cleared up
another point which was vexing many
persons who were unable to under
stand what physical organization
would be employed to enforce the law.
He announced that the federal govern
ment expected the full cooperation OF
all local police and other authorities,
calling attention to the duty of such
authorities to make arrests "for Of
fenses committed in their presence,
whether the offense be against the
laws Of the state or the laws of the
United States"
"As long as the law remains in force
it must be obeyed," the attorney gen.
eral said, "and l intend that the de-
partment of justice shall do its utmost
to perform the duty which Congress
has placed upon it. With the coop
GRAFTON of the local authorities it is be-
lieved the law can be made effective
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Roper issued instructions governing
the manufacture and distribution of
alcoholic liquors for medicinal, sacra-
mental and scientific purposes and in
formed revenue agents throughout the
country that they must cooperate In
every way with the department of JUS
tice in enforcement of general provi-
siOns Of the law.