The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-02
TREATY CHIEFS
START DICKER
WITH WHISKEY
Lifting of Dry Ban Reward
for Converting Wet
Foes Of Pact.
HITCHCOCK EMISSARY
Counsel for Distillers Told
Senator'S Are Good
Subjects.
-PENROsE is MENTIONED
Wilson Cannot Act Before
Ratification, Liquor Men
Are Impressed.
-PENROsE is MENTIONED
Sescfa, Despatca 10 TEE sus.

Special Despafch 70 TIE sus.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The direct
proposal that the whiskey interests
bring their influence to bear on cp-
ponents of the League Of Nations
scheme to insure early ratification Of
the peace treaty and thus permit the
lifting OF the wartime prohibition
edict was made to-day 20 the general
counsel of the distillers by Senator
Hitchcock (Neb.) one OF the Senate
leaders Of the league fight.
THE SUN correspondent Is enabled
to state this on the hest possible au-
thority.
Appealing to Senator Hitchcock to use
whatever influence he might have with
the President to bring about the lifting
of the present state of prohibition as
early as possible in order that distfilers
might avoid what they believe to Be alb
solute ruin through Withholding from
sale 10000, 900 gallons OF whiskey on
which the tax Of s6.40 per gallon has
been paid. not to mention 100000 gal
Ions Of whiskey in bond which probably
never can be disposed of. this proposal
was made.
Attitude of President.
In short, the counsel for the whiskey
interests was told in so many words that
the war time prohibition law could not
be ended before the ratification of the
peace treaty. embodying the league plan
and that the President would not bring
the present ban on the sale and manu-
facture OF sicohoiic, drinks TO An end be-
fore the treaty was ratified ~
On top OF this Senator Hitchcock. ac-
cording to this information, suggested
that the pressure of the liquor interests
be brought to bear on some Of the league
opponents in the Senate, who happen TO
be, ''wets." This was refused by the rep
resentativc of the distilling interests.
The conversation with Mr.. Hitchcock
even progressed to the stage where the
name of one Senator opposed to the
league, but known to be wet, was
mentioned. Senator Hitchcock suggested
that Senator Penrose (Pa.) might be
amenable to the suggestion.
The whole matter was laid before
Senator Penrose to-day. He appeared
greatly shocked and was not at all
ayerse to the fullest publicity being
given the entire matter.
In his talk with the newspaper men
here just prior to his address to Con-
gress laying the peace treaty before II
the President stated positively that he
should not lift the war time ban on
LIQUOR and beer until the treaty was rati-
fed.
Whether the President has knowledge
| OF this method of pressure is matter OF
conjecture. The Senator from Nebraska.
as we'll as the Presidents secretary. Mr.
Tumulty. denied there ever has been any
rift between the White House and the
man who was the Administration 8
spokesman unquestionably In league and
| treaty matters in the Senate. Un-
doubtedly the Senator's statement to-day
was taken without Immediate prior con-
sultation with the white House.
hitchcock Admits Visit.
Senator Hitchcock. when seen by THE
Sun correspondent admitted that Levi
! Cooke. attorney for the distiilery inter-
: ests. had visited him yesterday. Sena-
tor Hitchcock said:
'T made It very plain to Mr.. Cooke
that there were two necessary things to
be accomplished before the ban upon the
! traffic in alcoholic beverages could be
lifted They are the rehabilitation oi
| the army and the contamination OF
peace. I told Mr.. Cooke that there were
numbered among the opponents OF the
! League of Nations covenant and the
| treaty Senators who were recognized ad-
herents of the anti-prohibition policy
| and that their opposition to the covenant
| and the treaty were undoubtedly deter
rent to the relief which the distillers
and the owners OF the liquor in and out
! OF bond were seeking"
Senator Hitchcock said he had en-.
deayored to make II clear to the counsel
/ for the whiskey interests that the matter
was quite out of the Presidents hands
| The law, he said. was plain and specific
! and provides that until the ratification
! OF the peace pact and the demobilizatioH
! of the military forces from war to a
peace footing there could be no with.
drawals OF whiskey from bond and nc
1 legal sales Of the whiskey now held by
! retailers and wholesalers.
! Asked II he had mentioned Senator
! Penrose as one Of the influential on
! ponents OF the peace treaty who were in
sympathy with the anti-prohibition fol.
flowing, Senator Hitchcock said that hs
| had asserted that there were a number
of Senators whose views both on the
treaty and on the liquor question were
similar to those entertained by the Penn.
/ sylyanla Senator.