Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-07-11
HARDL.IQlJ0RCON
BUT Beer REMAINS
Department of Justice Will Not
Oppose Sale of Light Wines
Either.
AWAIT COURT DECISIONS.
viii Decide on Course of Action When
Courts Rule ON pa Per Cent. Beer.
Many Believe Denobilization
Will Not Be Before January.

Washington.-Th hour to which
prohibition forces have looked forward
for more than a half century struck al
midnight July !.
The United States went "dry.'
For the first time in history. one OF
the great nations began observance OF
a law prohibiting the absolute manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
I Prohibition, whether by statute OF
constitutional amendment, ceased to be
a political or moral theory and became
an actuaity. In the way. the dry
period ushered i'll at midnight will have
something of the nature of an expert
ment, preparation for the permanent
prohibition to be realized through the
change in the organic law. of the ma
ton.
Doubt relative to the course Of the
federal government with reference to
the attempted sale Of beer of not more
than 2% per cent. of alcoholic content
and wines \. of similar alchoholic
strength was cleared by Attorney Cen
eral Palmer in formal statement out
lining the position of the department
Of justice.
"My course" said Mr. Palmer, "will
depend upon the rulings which Will
soon be made by the district courts, in
which cases are now pending or IN
which other cases may be brought.
Il have no power to grant amnesty
to any who may see fit to manufacture
or sell beer pending au authoritative
judicial construction Of the law, and
am sure that-breWers and dealers gen.
orally understand that the pendency CT
litigation will be no protection against
prosecution for oifcnses under the
law"
This statement was taken to mean
that salounliccrcrS and others selling
2$A per cent. beer will not be arrested
for the present, but the fact that they
are not will imply no guarantee against
prosecution after the courts have de-
cidcd what percentage of alcohol con-
stituted Intoxicating liquor Mr'
Palmer accorded no recognition TO as
~slrances of some United States dis
trict attorneys who said the sale OF
such beer will be permitted" or mot
molested." Any brewer or dealer elect
ing TO sell such products must do so III
the expectation Of facing prosecution
If the courts hsld "a per cent. beer Il
an Intoxicating liquor.
Attorney General Palmer cleared up
another point which was veNing many
persons who were unable to under
stand what physical organization
would be employed to enforce Tie iaF'.
% He announced that the federal govern
ment expected the full cooperation o1
all local police and other authorities
calling attention TO the duty OF suCt
authorities to, make arrests Tfor o.
fenses committed in their presence.
whether the 0ffense be against fht,
laws of the state or the laws OF ths
United States"
"As long as the law remains in force
il must be obeyed," the attorney gen
eral said, "and | intend that the de-
partment OF justice shall do its utmost
TO perform the duty which Congress
has placed upon it, With the COOP
GRAFTON Of the local authorities it is be-
licved the law>can be made effective"
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue
Rnaer issued instructions governing
the manufacture and distribution of
alcoholic liquors for medicinal, sacra-
mental and scientific purposes and in
formed revenue agents throughout the
country that they must cooperate in
every way with the department Of JUS
tice in enforcement of general provi-
si0ns OF the law.