Arizona republican., 1919-10-29
The Presidents Prohibition Veto

The Presidents Prohibition Veto
 The presidents veto of the war time prohibition enforcement a surprise and it must remain surprising until he has presented for his dissent from overwhelming majority in each house of congress. On his return from Paris the last time he recommended to congress the repeal of the wartime prohibition law. There was apparent reason for that recommendation. The act had already served it's avowed purpose. The was, in fact, and demoblization practically complete Those who had the legislation the purpose which it had been framed and for the purpose of antic pating national prohibition, could criticse the president for believing that all that law been designed to accomplish. had been accomplished But the law gave the president power to decide that by declaring the army had been demobilized.
 Those who favored the liquor traffic lived in the hope that they would be granted respite hut that it has been postponed to within two and half months of the time when national prohibition shall be effective there is economic reason why wet period should be revived.
 There demand for it anywhere in the country except from the brewers and distiers and not from all of them Many people, perhaps half the population in states and districts not locally "dry," hoped last that the ban would be lifted for six months But the effect of time prohibition for the last four months has been such that those who had desired surcease, longer cared about it. and ready to enter upon national prohibition in ad- vance of the time set for it
 The law had been generally obeyed in most local ites In the larger cities where believed that prohibition could be enforced there was little trouble. The great hotels and the larger saloons yielded and they yielded with surprising cheer fitness. San Francisco furnished conspicuous example Most of the smaller saloons went out of
 
 maned open, selling soft drinks of many and in- creasng kinds, and 2.75 beer. Wine which had been feature of Francisco perhaps other city in the country, disappeared utterly There camouflage about it. could not get something stronger by winking at a bartender. The San Fran ciscans literally obeying the law and they not complaining
 The saloons freuuented as before Crowds gathered, drank mineral water and were as convvia they had been fn the old days Instead of the closing of the cabarets, and bigger opened and all were crowded to the morning hours. Many of the famous places of entertainment such the Techau Tavern enlargfng their facilities moving into new and more ornate quarters It is the testimony Of those who have observed San Francisco since midnight of June 3o that the night life there has increased in brilancy over anything that had ever been seen The people stay up longer in the dark hours for the that they do have to spend much of the day light hours in sleeping off tags drunken is seldom seen on the streets of San Francisco.
 It is so generally throughout the country. There are, of course saloons where the law is violated but usually these violations quickly pun ished with the approval the better of saloon keepers and bartenders. Even in Arizona we have bootleggers But generally. everywhere the situation has been cheerfuly accepted.
 The enforcement act which the president vetoed only furnished the machinery the enforcement of time prohibition but supplies the machinery for the enforcement of national prohibition. That renders it the more surprising that the president should have nterposed his veto which. if it has been sustained would have given the liquor traffic only short lease of life and would have made necessary other legislation give force the national prohbi- ton amendment