Evening journal., 1919-06-25
VETS PIN HOPE
ON PRESIDENT
Wilson Has Two Ways Open
to Halt War Time
Prohibition
SHORT DRY PERIOD
FEARED BY FRIENDS

/
WASHINGTON, June 25.-With war
time prohibition under the food slimu-
lalion act Of November y. 1918. sched-
luled TO go into effect within week in
( tcrcst here and throughout the coun-
/ try centors in whether Tie President
intends 10 suspend operation Of tbe
/ law. Investigation here shows that
The President probably viii act as soon
as he has the legal authority 10 do so.
and that prohibition ushcred Ia by the
food bin is not going 10 remain IN force
long. even if the President does not
feel warranted TO prevent IFS making
the country bone dry on July I.
There are two courses Of action open
10 The President. according 10 auihori-
ialiNe information here, and The
chances are an in favor Of his adopting
one or the other The FIRST is for the
President TO intervene before next
Wednesday and irrespective OF Con
grcss declare That The need for war
time prohibition under The food bill is
passed fhc other is for the President
TO await reports from The legal adyls-
crs that rehabilitation OF The Ameri-
can troops has been completed in the
sense of The statute and then put the
food stimulation bill with its wartime
prohibition hors du combat
The opinion Of officials in the presi
dents confidence is that the latter
course is perhaps more likely than The
former though they viii not he sur
prised TO see war time prohibition
nipped before it starts. nder The lat
ter contingency The nation would have
a few weeks of the bone dry expert !
ment followed by the lifting Of the ban |
until next January. when nationwide |
Prohibition goes into effect under the
amendment 10 the national Consiilu- |
lon
There is no doubt whatever that the !
Prcs.dept believes that The necessity Of !
the waA time prohibition under The food
bin has passed In his message 20
Congress be said:
The Rehabilitation Of the military
forces Of the country has progressed
90 such point that II seems 10 be
entirely safe now 10 remove the ban
on The sale Of wines and beers. but
] am advised that without further
legislation / have not Tie legal au-
thorlly to remove the present re-
strictlons.
His authority centres In the question
OF whether rehabilitation has been ac-
compllshed Legally under the provl-
sons OF the bin the President has the
power 10 eliminate war time prOhibi-
ton when rehabilitation has been COM
pleted. But rehabilitation is a question
Of fact which can be determined. and
last May the President referred 10 de-
mobilization as having progressed TO a /
point where it was safe TO remove the
restrictions from light wines and beers. |
but the President made 10 clear that he
did not regard rehabilitation as sum |
cicntly complete TO enable him to act
Independently Of Congress.
Where Rehabilitation Stands.
There has admittedly been great |
progress in demoblizalion since the
Presidents message This makes itl
possible that the President may now be
advised that ne has the authority 10
act. Anyway as soon as rehabilitation
Is practically completed the Presidents I
win be without question Es-
Inmates are that this situation will ar
rive by August or September at the
latest 10 would mean then reOpening
Of supplies 10 the public for a three 10
four months period Reports received
here show That hundreds OF thousands
Of dollars worth Of wines and beers are
being held in,larko cities. notably New
York. TO take care OF public demands
between The early fall and The FIRST Of
next year.
As the question Of rehabilitation is
~ far 70 !
Presidents authority is concerned there
is interest here In the last War De
parimcnt date on demobilization. The
latest statement issued follows;
"rhe estimated strength Of The army
as Of June ~ was l.l32.1i3, not includ
ing marines attached 90 the A. D. f. or /
these Jj2. .620 were in Europe 1850 on
the sea en- route 10 or from Europe and
ilO.255 in the United states"
"Mosl units Of The sixth and Seventh
regular divisions have now embarked.
Only Ave divisions remain IN the a. u.
r. none of which are assigned 10 CON
yoy.
"The following figures include army
lflccrs and men, army field clerks and
nurses. hut not l6.6i5 marines attached
10 the Expeditionary Force:
Europe. $4,000: siberia, s,i60S at
,ea en- route TO Europe. 2.i2s; at sea en-
route 10 the United States, i2s.i22
United States, ii0, 100; insular posses
5ions. 30SjS."
Tho question Is when Will The legal
advisers Of the President declare that
has reached stage
whore he can act. The five divisions TO
remain as Americas contribution 20 the
army Of occupation. The troops in ST.
beria and in insular possessions are all
out Of calculations because they are not
going TO be demohilized for some time.