The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-11
VETS N TRlAIeULAR
ASSAULT on DRY LAWS
Campaign-Boozers Strike
Wildly.

Attacks from three different angles
on the constitutionality of the pro-
hibition amendment and other anti
liquor legislation, including the emer-
gency dry clause OF the agricultural
bill adopted last November, are being
planned. with Washington as the base
OF. operations. Announcement has
been made that headquarters are to
be established in the capital, and the
biggest legal battle in American court
history win be waged from here to
prevent the nationwide abolition of
/ alcoholic beverages.
The three distinct interests to make
the separate fights against impending
prohibition are the distillers, the
brewers and the so-called 'neutrals,"
the latter represented by a powerful
organization of big business men of
| the country whose aim Is to make
the dry amendment forever inoper
ative."
Auxiliary action by the wine inter-
! ests also is probab Bile, but it will be on
| a smaller scale than planned by the
other three.
Levi Cook, of Washington, coun-
| Sci for the National Association of
Distillers and Wholesalers, recently
| in New York attended conference
Of attorneys and members of an as
ISOLATION committee who are prepar-
| ing for a determined legal fight in
behalf OF the distillers.
This group, which includes Law
| renee Maxwell, Of Cincinnati, former
solicitor general of the United States
and Levy Mayer, of Chicago, attor-
| ney for the packers, will outline a
| campaign wholly Independent of the
"Neutrals"
D~A C~sfv ~ x-rrk~ o$
ney, who is general counsel for the
| United States Brewers association,
said recently that the brewers were
not active In the organization of the
"neutrals," although the fundam entail
| principle they espouse and the pres
| t.ge that their arguments are counted
upon to aid the anti-dry cause in gen
| eral.
| Il know absolutely nothing OF the
| personnel OF the incorporators of the
| association nor the aims actuating
them" said Mr.. Cain.
| Mr.. Grain was not prepared to give
a definite idea of the policy to be
adopted by his clients. He said the
| brewers 'anti-prohibition campaign
| would be conducted from Washing
| ton. .
| Although quits attacking the liquor
| laws will be the medium through
| which the brewers intend mainly 10
make their fight, 1t Is known they at
tach much Importance to the beer
and light wine" agitation. which has
| generous support from organized la
! Dor. This movement is most tangibty
| represented In Washington by the
National Anu-Dry Referendum, league,
with headquarters in the Franklin
National Bank building.
| The league" said F. r. Warren.
secretary. intends to seek a. special
| election In Virginia to give the people
a chance to say whether they favor
| the action taken by the legislature in
ratffying the dry amendment"
| It Is also our intention to exact
| promises from all senators and rep
| resentatfves to go on record In favor
| of giving the right OF suffrage to the
| people OF mo Mans Iand"--Wash-
| ington. This would give the citizens
| here a chance to decide the liquor
question for themselves.
| The three big ''anti-dry'' interests
---distfIlers, brewers and neutrals--
| intend to carry their cases to the
court Of hast resort Probably the
| most formidable AIRY Of legal talent
| ever contesting in American courts
has been retained to combat prohibi-
ton.