Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-04-23
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.

ture of a prohibition enforcement
measure which would make Wisconsin
bone dry.
The governor, in a statement to
newspaper correspondents, advocated
law which would permit the manu-
facture and sale of light wines and
beer containing less than 3 per cent
alcohol
This is in line with TIVE demands of
organized labor, as expressed at a re-
cent meeting of L state affairs com
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.
Il do not know what the legislature
will do on the liquor question" said
Governor Philip. II can only say
what l would like to see done. l would
not wish the state to enact legislation
which to reasonable people would
seem like Il disposition to repudiate
ganic law has been amended by com
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
stiuutional 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-
hibjGon has many friends and many
enemies. and the lights of those who
. oppose absolute prohibition should be
respected.
Il am sure the people will appreci-
ate shat 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 them, we may look for
many forms of evasion of the law, and
it is a question whether that would
not produce result even more OBJ
jectiOnabIe than the situation we have
had up to this time.
81 do not personally believe in pro-
noting falsehood and deception, and
I am sure that if the state of WiscOn-
sin, and for that matter, a great num-
Der of the states in the Union, go alb
'soIutely dry, it would promote the cs-
adjustment of many types of evasion
of the law that would be harmful in
many respects.
''The question before the legislature
is the establishment of definition of
Intoxicating liquor.
1T 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-
sOnably satisfy those who have been
in the habit of using stronger drinks.
1t is also suggested that the people
be permitted to use IA mild wine, and
l see no harm in that, if the use OF 1t
is confined to homes, and it is not of
fered for public sale.
Il feel that such a statute would
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 filled with blind stills
and other devices that would produce
liquors that are absolutely harmful,
nr
patent medicines that contained
large per cent of alcohol, extracts and
other substitutes.
mo doubt the last word on the
question of prohibition enforcement
win 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"
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 continuation by the
state of the 20 employment bureaus
in the state which were to be discon-
tinued on April 1 because of lack of
federal funds.
The second bill, fathered by Assem-
blyner Otto of Milwaukee, limits the
use of injunction in the labor disputes.
Conditions at State Institutions.
Four institutions are financial bur
dens to the state. shows the report of
the legislative visiting committee be-
fore the finance committee, which is
studying the voluminous report TO OBJ
tain information for various remedial
bills and for appropriations to curb
glaring shortcomings as reported. The
worst condition is at the Industrial