The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-04
LAW
MUST BE OBEYED.
Attorney General Palmer Calls on
Local Authorities to Aid.

Attorney General Palmer Calls on
Local Authorities to Aid.
Washington, June 30.-The de-
partment of justice will take no ac-
ton, pending decision in present liti-
cation. against persons making or
selling beer and wines containing
23-4 per cent or less alcoholic con-
tent. This announcement was made
tonight by Attorney General Palmer
Attorney General Palmer an
rounced tonight that as long as the
wartime prohibition law remains in
force it must be obeyed and that the
department of justice would do its
utmost ''to perform the duty which
the congress has placed upon it" in
enforcing the law.
He declared that the departments
course with regard to the manufac-
ture and sale of beer containing less
than 3-4 per cent alcohol would de-
pend upon rulings made by the dis
trict courts in which cases now are
pending or many be brought. The
fact that litigation is pending will be
no protection against prosecution or
.offenses sunder the law.
-..y Must be Obeyed.
The attorney generals statement
said:
After today it will be unlawful
to sell for beverage purposes any
distilled spirit and any beer or other
intoxicating malt or various liquor
except for export. This prohibition
will continue under the terms of the
law until the conclusion of the pres
.ent war and thereafter until the ter
animation of rehabilitation AS long
as the law thus remains in force, it
must be obeyed, and l intend that
the department of justice shall do its
utmost to perform the duty which
the congress placed upon it.
'sThis law has been held to he con-
stitutional and valid by the circuit
court of appeals sitting in New York.
1t plainly makes unlawful the sale of
whiskey, brandy and other distilled
spirits and wine. The only contro-
versy that has arisen is as to whether
the sale of beer containing so little
alcohol as not to be in fact intoxicat-
ing is prohibited. The governments s
contention is that the act prohibits
the manufacture and sale Of beer
containing as much as one-haf of l
per cent of aclohol. But the interp-
rotation of the act is not free from
difficulty, and I am endeavoring to
have the question settled by the
courts at the earliest possible mo-
ment. My course with respect to beer
containing less than 2 3-4 per cent of
alcohol which, it is claimed, is not
intoxicating depend upon the
ruling which will soon be made by
:the district courts in which cases are
now pending or in which other cases
may be brought. have no power to
grant amnesty to any one who may
see fit to manufacture or sell beer
pending an authoritative judicial con-
struction of the law, and ! am sure
that brewers and dealers generally
understand that the pendency Of liti-
cation will be no protection against
prosecution or offense under the law.
VIII Prosecute Violators.
~<But with respect to whiskey,
brandy and other distilled spirits,
wine and beer containing more than
e 3-4 per cent Of alcohol and other
Intoxicating malt or vinous liquors
the prohibition is beyond controversy
and but one course is open to the de-
partment of justic. All persons found
selling such liquors must be arrested
and prosecuted. The district at
;torness will cause warrants to be is
sued for all offenders as to whom
evidence is furnished by the bureau
of investigation, the agents Of the in
sernal revenue bureau of the treas
-uw department, local officers or
dthes, and the marshals and their
Deputies will promptly serve such
warrants.
fhAtks All Officers to Help.
with the cooperation of local au-
thorities, it is believed that the law
can be made effective. For this rea-
son / call attention to the fact that it
is the duty of the local arresting Of
fcers to make arrests for offenses