The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-29

by the President last November. Until
1t Is abrogated by the President himself
under the conditions expressly set out in
us own provisions Il is part OF the STU
preme law of the land, and IL is the duty
or the President to join with Congress
In providing for its enforcement so long
as 1t is the law. The portion of the en-
forSement bill to which the President
objects in his veto message will become
nun and void the moment he abrogates
the war prohibition law and does not
limit In any respect his power under
that act to terminate It's operation. In
this time of unrest. of defiance of law, of
violation of contracts and pledged faith,
IL Is deplorable thing to find the Presi-
dent of the United States, charged with
the duty of executing the laws, trying to
nullify. while It is still binding, law
whose conditions and limitations he ap-
proved by his own signature, and fur
ther trying to rebuke Congress for taxi
ing seriously the oath of office subscribed
to by Its members, and for seeking to
stop offences against the sovereignty of
the United States
The veto of the prohibition enforce
ment bill is the last act In the carrying
out or repeatedly apparent assurance TO
samuel Gompers. Judging from Mr..
Gompers's pro-liquor activity and the OBJ
Vious extent to which his loyalty to the
allied cause during the war was pur-
chased at the price of keeping the Ger
man breweries in operation in America,
II Is fair to inquire whether Mr.. Com
perss recent defiance of the President
was calculated to compel the President
TO come through in a last effort to Sc
cure wide open spell before the prohi-
pltion amendment goes into effect"
Caffey Makes Statement.
And United States Attorney Caffey is
sued the following Interpretation of the
enforcement act;
1.-THE so-called prohibition enforcement
law contains three substantive provisions
to which attention is called.
First. The new law makes 1t clear
that the beverages to which the war
prohibition act of November 21, 1918,
applies include. all beer, wine or other
malt or vlnous liquors which contain one
half of l per cent. or more of alcohol by
volume.
second. 1t declares to be public and
common nuisance any kind of place
where such liquor is sold, manufactured,
Kept for sale or bartered in violation of
the war prohibition act and prescribes
as punishment fine of not less than
800 nor more than $1,000 or imprison-
more than one year or both.
Third. 1t authorizes the United States
District Court in suits brought by the
Government to abate such nuisances and
euJo.n their further maintenance and
empowers the court to punish for con-
tempt those who violate injunctions by
II fine or not less than $500 nor more
than $1,000 or by Imprisonment of not
less than thirty days or more than twelve
months or by both such fine and i'm
prisonment."
Hugh f. Fox said that members of
the United Brewers Association had
been advised by counsel that the Vol
stead prohibition enforcement bill is I'M
constitutional in SO far as it provides for
the continuance of wartime prohibition.
Nevertheless" said Mr.. Fox, the
brewers will observe it's terms until the
courts shall decide upon It. a suit will
be brought to test the constitutionality
of these provisions, and every effort will
be made to have a prompt hearing"
The Association Opposed to National
Prohibitions issued statement from
Mary NJ. Lilly. candidate for reelec-
ton to the Assembly from the Seventh
Assembly district. Mrs. Lilly is a Dem
ocrat
THE Constitution" she declared yes
terday. "is a bill of rights, not a bill Of
no rights. I feel that the people them
selves should be given the opportunity to
decide II they want national prohibition. IL
they want il they should decide upon 1t
by referendum. The writer's of the Con-
stitutloa fought for certain rights, not
that certain privileges should be taken
away.
Constitutional prohibition is sump-
tuary law, and laws regarding what we
should eat and not eat, what we should
drink and not drink, have long since been
declared unconstitutional. l feel that
the Constitution is such sacred thing
that no inhibitions Of any kind should
be written into IT, Constitutional pro-
hibition is n dissertation. II there Is
a saloon problem we have brains enough
TO Aolve It. Crime and evil should be
dealt with by the people themselves"