The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-01
NATION IS NOW
OFFICIALLY DRY
But Fractional" Beer Still
Being Sold in Places
Continued From, Page One


ings. that we would have TO make
"A jury case OF each arrest.
In the meantime we contend
that the sale OF beer Is in viola
cision Ia delayed or congress liz slow
| In passing enforcement laws. we
may find II necessary TO make
wholesale arrests turnout the coun-
try"
| Beer and in some instances even
light wines we're still being sold
In many cities. according to re-
ports received here. These odvices
Indicated there was much confusion
as 10 what Attorney General
Palmer would do about enforcing
the law with regard to beer con-
tanning 20 per cent alcohol.
There was no cloudiness. how
ever. about Palmer's attitude to-
ward hard liquors. He announced
fatty, that all dealers In such
prod cts would be prosecuted.
Thus John Barleycorn was In a
moribund condition. But he still
had a slight pulse. due TO the be-
lief that President Wilson would
lift the wartime prohibition ban as
soon as demobilizatoin was COM
pleted.
Opinions varied widely as TO what
constituted complete rehabilitation,
drys asserting II would not he com
plste until the army and navy were
both down TO pence footing. which
would carry wartime prohibition
right into constitutional. permanent
prohibition next January. VETS
believed II would come In time to
give the nation n few more drink
ing weeks before liquor becomes I'M
constitutional.
Wartime prohibition was voted
by congress as n rider TO tho agri-
cultural appropriation bill of 1918.
II was intended to conserve food
stuffs which were going into the
manufacture OF drink. Representa-
tive Barkley, Kentucky, introduced
the rider.
Thousands Lose Jobs
According to figures gathered by
the Anti-Saloon league and other
interested agencies. 125. 900 saloons
failed TO open their doors today.
or opened only for the sale Of beer
and light vines.
The Unitci States employment
service was unable to present com
plete statistics OF the number of
men thrown out OF work, bur I'M
officially the estimates ran into
hundreds of thousands, including
bottlers. truck drivers and many
other trades. as well as bartenders.
Officials of the employment ser
vice, however. expressed confidence
in their ability to find jobs for all.
The drys, headed by Chairman
Nolstead of the judiciary commit.
tee, will press the enforcement bill
early next week. asking for spe.
cial rule so that it may be consid
cred.
THE apparent confusion over en-
forcement of wartime prohibition
shows the need OF more legislation"
Volstead said, "and with the large
dry majority In congress. | am sure
this can be readily approved. What
Many dealers, on their own initia-
tive. sought to include exemption of
light wines" There were varied in.
terpretations OF what constituted this
class OF beverage. the New York po-
lice applying the term to port and
sherry.
The New York Retail Liquor Deal
ers' association voted to Keep bars
open here and continue sale OF 2.75
per cent beer and Notwithstanding"
wines. The New York Hotel Mems
association decided TO obey the law
lin act and spirit" but left this to
individual Interpretation.
New York. In common with most OF
the big wet" spots in the country.
celebrated the partial demise of John
Barleycorn last night with a drinking
bout that rivaled any similar effort in
its history Sale OF hard" drinks
ceased exactly at midnight, but the
celebra tors were so well inoculated
by that time that they did not mind,
for the time being. After midnight
the bars, cafes and hotels here con-
tinued to purvey light wines and beer
until 1:30.
There was a last hour rush TO in.
crease stocks for homo consumption.
but nothing like what had been an
ticipated. The public. apparently.
counted on being able to continue
purchase of the lighter drinks as a
result of the ruling from Washington
late yesterday.