The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-04-18
Urges Legislative. Caution in
Enacting Enforcement Bill.
ASSERTS EVIL MIGHT RESULT
Executive, In Statement to NeWspa-
per Correspondents, Fears There
Would Follow Faisehood and
Gross Evasion of Law.


ment measure which would make Wis
consin bone dry.
The governor, in statement to
newspaper correspondents, advocated
a law which would permit the manu-
facture and sale Of light wines and
beer containing less than 3 per cent
alcohol.
This is i'm line with the demands OF
organized labor, as expressed at re-
cent meeting of the state affairs CON-
mittee of the senate, and by petitions
coming into both houses.
Governor Philip expressed the fear
that absolute prohibition at this time
would lead to falsehood, deception and
evasion of the law, and also to the es-
Establishment of blind stills and the use
of harmful substitutes for drinks con-
tanning a small per cent of alcohol.
Il do not know what the legislature
will do on the liquor question" said
Governor Philip. Il can only say
what I would like to see done. would
not wish the state to enact legislation
which to reasonable people would
seem like a disposition to repudiate
the eighteenth amendment. Our or
ganic law has been amended by con-
stitutional provision, therefore is en-
titled to compliance by the people, and
see no orderly way to change it ex-
cept by the adoption of another con-
stitutiOnal amendment which would
nullify it,
However, it does not necessarily
follow that the use of mild forms OF
alcoholic drinks should be forbidden.
1t is altogether a question of what
constitutes an Intoxicating drink. Pro-
hibition has many friends and many
enemies, and the rights of those who
oppose absolute prohibition should be
respected.
1T am sure the people will appreci-
ate that it will be difficult completely
to change the habits of this genera
ton, and unless some drink is given
those who desire it, that is reasonably
satisfactory to therH, we may look for
many forms of evasion of the law, and
it is a question whether that would
not produce a result even more OBJ
jectionable than the situation we have
had up to this time.
81 do not personally believe I'm pro-
noting falsehood and deception, and
/ am sure that If the state of Wiscon.
sin. and for that matter, great num-
her of the states in the Union, go alb
solutely dry, 1t would promote the es-
adjustment Of many types of evasion
Of the law that would be harmful in
many respects.
1.-THE Question before the legislature
Is the establishment of definition OF
Intoxicating liquor.
ut is my judgment that beer con-
tanning less than per cent alcohol
would not be harmful in the sense that
strong drinks are, and it would rea
In the habit of using stronger drinks.
1t is also suggested that the people
be permitted to use mild wine, and
I see no harm in that, if the use of 1t
Is confined to homes, and it is not af-
fered for public sale.
L q
cure the evils complained of in con-
nection with the use of alcoholic
drinks, and at the same time would
satisfy those who wish to use bever-
ages in some form.
under such a statute the state
would not be filed with blind stills
and other devices that would produce
liquors that are absolutely harmful,
nor would it be promoting the use of
patent medicines that contained
large per cent of alcohol, extracts and
other substitutes.
mo doubt the last word on the
question of prohibition enforcement
will come from congress, but there is
no indication that the subject will be
reached or disposed of for some time
by our national legislators. In the
meantime something must be done by
| the states and l assume that our own
legislature will undertake to give us
| legislation on this subject"
| At this point the governor remarked
! that he did not wish to set himself
| up as an expert on what constitutes
| an intoxicating drink, and added:
"Some of the editors who have
! written so freely on this subject prob
{ ably would be much better judges"
Governor Philip said that in local.
ties where people do not wish the sale
| of even very mild drinks at a stand
Ing bar, the problem could be met by
| confirming the sale of mild alcoholic
| drinks to restaurants and places
| where no bar is maintained
Two big bills in the interest of labor
| were favorably advanced in the lower
| house of the Wisconsin legislature
| practically without debate The first
/ provides for a continuation by the
state of the 20 employment bureaus
| In the state which were to be discon-
| tinued on April / because of lack Of
| federal funds.
The second bill. fathered by Assem-