Imperial Valley press., 1919-07-01

! columbus, ONO, July l.-WliIl2m j.
Bryan riding camel at the head of
a parade here today in celebration Of
the funeral of John Barleycorn given
by the Methodist Centenary eXposi-
ton.
day with an early morning Dracer.
Atlantic City, July 1.-Practically
all saloons, excepting those at the
beach front hotels are dispensing. in
toXicating beverages of all Kinds.
Wholesale house are closed.
Washington, June 30.-It is under
stood the department of justice has
decided that war time prohibition
does not stop the sale of light wines
and beer. The district attorneys of
wet territory have been instructed to
abide by the recent decision Of the
New York court and not to prosecute
dealers selling beverages containing
not more two and three-quarters per-
cent of alcohol. Attorney General
Palmer will issue a statement.
Washing, July 1.-The nation
awolle to the realization of prohibition
today. Only those who were provident
enough to stock up in advance OF
could find solace in two and three
quarters percent brew were able
to observe the custom of starting the
Washington, July 1.-The state
ment of Atty.-Gen. Palmer, tonight,
announcing that the department of
justice will take no action, pending
decisions in present litigation, against
persons manufacturing Or selling beer
/ and wines containing 3-4 per cent
or less of alcoholic contents, follows
After today, it will be unlawful to
sell for beverage purposes. any dis
titled spirits and any beer, VINE or
other Intoxicating malt or vinous
liquor, except for export. This PRO
hibition will continue under the terms
of the law "until the conclusion of
the present war and thereafter until
the termination Of demobiiZation.
AS long as the law thus remains in
force, it must be obeyed, and | in
tend that the department of justice
shall do its utmost to perform the
duty which the congress has placed
upon it.
This law has been held to be con-
stitutional and valid by the circuit
court of appeal, sitting in New York, I
1t plainly makes unlawful the sale of
whisky, brandy and other distilled
spirits and wine.
The only controversy that has
arisen is as to whether the sale of
beer containing so little alcohol as
not to be in fact Intoxicating is pro-
hibited. The governments contention
has been that the act prohibits the
manufacture and sale of beer con- /
tanning as much as l2 Of per cent /
OF alcohol, but the Interpretation Of
the act is not free from difficulty, /.
and | am endeavOrinC to have the /
question settled by the courts at the
earliest possible moment. My course, /
with respect to beer containing less /
than 3-4 per cent of alcohol-which /.
it is claimed is not Intoxicating /
depend uron the ruling which will /
soon be made bv the District Courts, |
in which cases are now pending, or
in which other cases may be brought :
have no power to grant amnesty to /
any who may see fit to manufar-- ne /
or sell beer pending an authoritative I
judicial construction of the law, and /
| am sure that brewers and dealers /.
generally understand that the pend |.
eacy f~litigation will be no protec- /
tion against prosecution for offenses
under the law.
But, with respect to whisky, brandy
and other distilled spirits. wine and
been containing more than , Sd per
cent of alcohol, and other Intoxicating
malt or Vinous liquors, the prohibition
is beyond controversy, and but one
course is open to the department Of
such liquors must be arrested and
prosecuted The district attorneys
will cause warrants to be issued for
all offenders as to whom evidence is
furnished by the bureau Of irveSti-
cation, the agents of the Internal
Revenue Bureau of the Treasury de
partment. local officers or others, and
the marshals and their deputies will
promptly serve such warrants.
With the cooperation Of local au-
thorities, it is believed that the law
can Re made effective. For this rea-
son, / call attention to the fact that
it is the duty of local arresting Off
GERS to make arrests Of offenses
committed in their presence, Wheth-
or the cffense be against the laws of
the state or the laws of the United
States. | confidently expect the
hearty cooperation Of focal munici-
pal authorities, and earnestly request
that all police officers be instructed
to arrest persons found selling in
violation of the war prohibition act,
and to take such persons before a
United States Commissioner, when
the district attorney will cause war
rants to issue. Local officers should
also report to the United States at
torneys evidence of offenses not COM
mitted in their nraseOre