Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-02
SALE OF BEER is
BANNED T0DAy;;iMAY
BE Q. K. TOMORROW
sALooNMEN FACED WITH NERv.
Gus BREAkDoWNs AS BARoME.
TERLlkE ACTS AT WASHING
TON KEEP EN- GUESSING.

TON KEEP EN- GUESSING.
Washington, July 2.-COngress and
the department OF Justice moved yes.
terday to stop the sale of 2A per cent
beer under the wartime prohibition
act
Prohibition leaders OF the house,
after series Of conferences, obtained
call for a meeting Monday of the
judiciary committee, which is ex-
pected to agree promptly on an indie
dent bill for enforcement of the
"ar-time law, defining intoxicating
liquor as containing more than one
half Of per cent alcohol, and to rec
ommend passage of such bill by the
house at the earliest possible mo.
ment
At the same time the department OF
justice made 1t plain its agents would
enforce the act according to its in.
depreciation that anything containing
more than one.half of | per cent al
cohol cannot be legally manufactured
or sold.
Court Decisions Conflict.
Decisions OF Federal Judge Rose AT
Baltimore in favor OF the brewers and
2% per cent beer and of Federal Judge
Sawtelle at San Francisco against the
brewers and such beer threw the en-
tire legal status OF low alcoholic beer
into uncertainty
Either the Baltimore, the San Fran
cisco or one of the many other cases
expected to arise soon will be ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court Of the
United States. However, action by
Congress within a few weeks at the
most is expected to render q decision
by the Supreme Court unnecessary so
far as stopping the manufacture and
sale is concerned.
Attorney General Palmer made It
clear yesterday that while his depart
ment would proceed In an orderly
manner without wholesale arrests or
specular raids, offenders against the
prohibition law could expect nothing
else than "early and vigorous" prose-
cution.
Al May Be Prosecuted.
Pending the settlement of test cases
it may be that evidence in numerous
similar cases will be gathered with
out arrests being made, but II the gov
eminent wins in the end all will be
prosecuted
1--WE propose to make immediate ar
rests Of persons who violate the war
time prohibition law according to our
Interpretation thereof" Attorney Gen
eral Palmer said, "The department
does not intend, however, to be
swept off its feet the first. day that
prohibition comes into effect.
J "We will proceed in an orderly
fashion to establish whether intoxicat-
ing beverages prescribed by the law
include those having less than 2A per
cent alcohol"
Court Decision Awaited.
Mr.. Palmer reiterated that all per
sons violating the law might expect
"early and vigorous" prosecution
While there remains question as to
whether tx per cent beer is intoxi-
eating, the department Of justice viii
not attempt wholesale arrests, but II
decision in the pending case at
Baltimore is favorable to the govern
ment prosecution Will result promptly
in all cases in which evidence has
been obtained.
The attorney general said the test
cases In New York resulted in a de-
cision requiring the prosecution to
intoxicating in each individual case,
and that, therefore, decision in the
Baltimore case was desired to give n
clear-cut Interpretation OF whether 2M
per cent beer was in fact Intoxicating
If upheld by the Supreme Court such
decision would be applicable to the
entire country
In the meantime, the attorney gen.
era! is hopeful that Congress will pass
legislation for the enforcement of war
time prohibition. which would do away
with existing uncertainties.
When informed of reports that sa-
looms in Atlantic City were continuing
to dispense whisky and similar drinks,
Mr.. Palmer said:
well, there Is no uncertainty in
cases like that"