The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29
SALOONS HERE
TO REMAIN OPEN
City and State Officials Will
Wait on Federal En-
forcement.
DRYS TO TAKE NO ACTION
Retail Liquor Dealers Will
Meet Tomorrow to De-
eide on Course.
DRYS TO TAKE NO ACTION

There was every indication yester-
day that despite President Wilson's
failure to take action to abrogate the
war time prohibitory act before It goes
into effect next Tuesday an over
whelming majority Of New York sa-
looms will continue to do business as
usual This question will be decided
upon tomorrow afternoon, when the
Retail Liquor Dealers Association
will meet to adopt a definite program.
Most of those with whom a reporter
for THE Sun talked yesterday were
| inclined to snap metaphorical fingers
at immediate danger Of prosecution.
The war time prohibition act, it was
| pointed out, carries no penalty for vio-
lation. There was no disposition, how
ever, to blink at the likelihood that
| Congress will pass the enforcement
statute now pending within probably
a week, provided the President does
not rescind the war measure by proc
lamation.
But as far as present prospects are
concerned 1t is practically the unani-
nous belief Of the saloon men that
they are taking very few chances by
opening their doors Tuesday. 1t Is
known that neither the Federal Dis
trict Attorneys office. the Department
Of Justice. nor the three Collectors OF
Internal Revenue here have sufficient
men at~their command to undertake
to bring about real enforcement.
Unless tho Federal Government
issues definite instructions concerning
the method of enforcing war time
prohibition no effort is to be made In
that direction by State or city officers
charged with the regular enforcement
Of law, according to a decision reached
yesterday at Syracuse. where the Cor
poration Counsels Of eight cities met
in conference. The meeting was
called by Mayor Stone of Syracuse. az
president OF the State Conference OF
Mayors.
Anderson's Statement.
II was announced at the District At
torney's Office that every complaint re-
ceived there would be investigated and
that IL the investigation developed thai
liquor was being illegally sold prosecu
tions would be instituted at once. The
saloon men we're apprehenslve that tho
Anti-Saloon League might undertake tC
secure evidence and make wholesale
complaints. This fear was voided las
night, however, by statement ISSUED
by William H. Anderson, State Superin
tendent of the league, who said his or
ganization would take no action to pre-
vent brewers and their saloon keepinI
ivassals" from doing whatever the!
wished up 10 January IS. when the pro
hibitory amendment to the Federal Con
stitution becomes operative.
'"The Anti-Saloon League is not at al
worried over the situation. because n
matter what happens 1t will help tn
prohibition movement" said Mr.. Ander
son. "If the war prohibition law Is gen
orally observed the benefit will be 8
apparent that the whole country will b
lreconclled to national prohibition befor
the amendment goes into effect. II tn
President abrogates the war prohibitio
law it will help impress upon the mora
element OF the country generally tina
there Is danger and that II must b
alert and keep on the Job.
III the third possibility happens. tina
= is war prohibition goes into effect bu
d Is defed, that will, II anything. hel
even more than the others, because
y will arouse the people TO new realizs
e tion Of the Inherently lawless characte
II of tho liquor traffio
n Defines Leagues Attitude.
IT 1--WE shall assume that the officials ir
e tend to discharge their duties and wi
Is not undertake anything of a drast
n' character. The Anti-Saloon Leagu
does not intend to do anything now ths
will turn sympathy toward the vets an
away from the prohibition cause.
"Whiie tho Anti-Saloon League hs
stood for the war prohibition act, aft
ali that has been a mere incident. tt
greatest value we have got from Il
war Department proposition 10 the dire
~ impetus that the attitude and tactics I
=. the liquor interests, and particularly u
~ brewers. has given the permanent prop
sitlon.
"a ''If the brewery interests had col
l. --