The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-28
Prohibition Forces Claim the
Senate Will Take Similar
Action Today, and That the
"Wet Splash" Before Con-
stituhon>.l Prohibition Will
Never Come

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27-Pres-
ident Wilson unexpectedly vetoed
the prohibition enforcement bill
today, and within three hours the
house had repassed it over his veto
by a vote of 176 to SIS. The total
vote was barely more than a ma
! jority of the entire membership.
Dry leaders in the senate imme-
diately began laying plans to re-
pass the bill. They expect to ask
unanimous consent for its consid-
Grafton tomorrow, claiming
enough votes to put it through.
They expect to act on it by Wed
nesday at the latest.
The president refused to sign
the bill because it included the
enforcement of war time prohlbl-
ton.
The objects of war time prohibi-
tion, the president said in his
veto, had been satisfied, and
sound public policy makes clear
the reason and necessity for its re-
peal"
| It would not be difficult, the
president held, for congress to
deal separately with the two is
sues.
The veto hit congress Like q crack
| Of lightning. The house, getting on
its feet again, deserted its leaders,
| who wanted to defer consideration
: until Thursday so as to round up oil
! the dry members. But the drys swept
J into the chamber and showed there
was an overwhelming sentiment
among them to give the government
ample weapons for dealing with the
liquor traffic, now outlawed through
! out the land.
Nobody had really professed 30
! know that tho president would veto
! tho bill. Republicans and Demo
! Gratis alike-and the countless multi
! tude that had sorrowfuny watched
1 IEo pS1S1uX O4 49, ~
! would become Q law without his Sig
: nature.
! Attorney General Palmer, II was
said, had declared It constitutional.
; But the president, proppsd up In
bed, dictated and then signed veto
message and ssns It along TO con-
1rsss, without worrying, apparently
about what congress might DO.
! with re-passage OF the law by tho
! house, and the prospect OF the sa1ne
thing happening In tho senate, noPe
! Of the big "wet spell" that woulo Fun
over the Christmas season vanished
/ into thin or.
! prohibition leaders tonight predict
+: ed that the refusal Of the house to ae-
cent tho presidents veto meant that
thu sale Of liquor would not be per-
unttted again In tho Nfo Of this and
!, many other generations.
The reasons for vetotng rne act
were set forth by the president In
tho message.
! The presidents veto message was
read early tonight to tho house, which
soon became involved In parIIArnen-
tary tangle, with efforts being made
! to force an immediate vote on over
! riding the veto.
When the message was read, Chair
. man VOlgteao sought !" A~He sAAS
house set Thursday for considering
tho vote, but later changed his tao
tics and attempted In vain to with
draw his motion after that Of Repre-
sentative walsh, Republican, Massa-
chusetts, to table the volstead motion
had been defeated It's to 30. Then
followed q tentative vote on the VOL
: stead motion by which the house re-
fused to nx Thursday for considering
the veto.
Attempt to obtain adjournment fan-
ed and the house then by vote OF
! ISL TO as shrt on further debate.
The roll call on passing the enforce
ment bill over the presidents veto
! then began.
One Hope Of WET Spell"
One hope remains for the talked-Ot
wet spell" before prohibition becomes
| effective by constitutional amendment
! II is that the German peace treaty
NAV he ratified. and that the president
MAY declare p"ac" and dcmootliZAtion or
! Ihc army and navy. Some l"aSl experts
I contend that would automatically annul
tho war time prohibition law.
But there is a legal question lnfoiVed