Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-01
THE DILEMMA OF THE DAY

~ VI all nj Measure ana regulations growing y
the war with Germany none has been more confusing
than the law which prohibits the sale of intoxicating
liquors after July 1. When it was passed by congress
last fall, it was with the definite stipulation that it would
in effect until rehabilitation of the United States
army had been completed, and during his sojourn in
Paris President Wilson penned a message to the extra
session of congress whose members were told, in effect,
that Rehabilitation had now proceeded so far that it
might be well to consider the possibility of repeating the
wartime prohibition law in advance of its enforcement.
Altogether about two and a half million American
soldiers have been abroad and of these approximately
a million and a half have returned home during a pc
ricd which was wet" as in days of yore. Now when
probably a million men are left in Europe. and when
peace is declared, the president issues a new statement
saying that he is without power to repeal the law in view
OF the fact that the national legislators did not see their
way clear to pass an act which would give him the nee
essary authority, and so the anti-liquor measure became
an establish fact when the clock struck twelve at mid
night between June 80 and July 1.
That popular notions concerning the real scope of
the law are rather confused. can surprise no one who
witnesses the confusion reigning in government circles in
regard to the experiment. for although it was said plain
ly enough at first that the law would be all inclusive,
and that, for instance, certain beer and light wines would
be on the Index e1purgatortum." the highest legal au-
ikority of the administration offers a temporary inter-
probation Of the law which. while not actually permitting
the continued sale Of so-called 2.75 per cent beer and
Fight wine. holds out the hope that sellers Of these bev-
erages will not be prosecuted-unless courts rule ad-
sersely.
So the situation really is this: It is. literally speak
me. Illegal to sell 275 per cent beer and. light wines,
bat there is a remote chance that at some future day it
may be declared legal. and pending the outcome of fur
ther research. sellers are, inversely az it were, permit
ted" to ply their trade within the limitations specified.
Ihey run a risk. nevertheless. for in case courts find that
The wartime prohibition act actually must be understood
TO affect the sale of even mider drinks, they are liable
tc prosecution. So. the average brewer and saloonkeeper
hardly knows what to DOH this most unprecedented
situation. Some OF them apparently have thought pru-
Hence The safer method, for thousands Of saloons closed
When the law became effective.
Looked at from one viewpoint, 1t is hard to under
sstand III the noise and confusion about the wartime act.
AZ best # gives but brief respite. for shortly after the
Sssinning Of the new year. prohibition will be in force
2ssmanentiy all over the country. The present i'm
tatiShcs ana nervousness may be similar to that felt by
S5vsryonss who knows that 4 great catastrophe u tmpend-
aagsssAnd sthat Il y Wise to make the best Of the period
ssaee tntsryenins between the present and the awful
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