The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-28

Dry leaders in the Senate immedi-
ately began laying plans to repass the
bill there. They expect to ask unan-
,jmOus consent for Its consideration to-
morrow, claiming enough votes to put
il through. They expect to act on IT
by Wednesday at the latest.
The President refused to sign the bill
because 1t included the enforcement
Of wartime prohibition.
The objects of war-time prohibition,
the President said in mis- veto, had been
satisfied and "sound public policy
make. clear the reason and necessity
for it's repeal
1t would not be difficult, the Presi-
dent held, for Congress to deal sep
arately with the two issues.
CONGRESS STUNNED
The veto hit Congress like crack
of lightning The House, getting on
its feet again. deserted its leaders,
who wanted to defer consideration
until Thursday so as to round up all
the dry members But the drys swept
into the chamber and showed there
was an overWhelmin sentiment
among them to give the government
ample weapons for dealing with the
liquor traffic. now outlawed through
out the land.
Nobody had really professed to know
that the President would veto the bill.
Republicans and democrats alike-and
the countless multitude that had Sor-
rowfully watched the passing OF tht
bars-thought it would become Aaw
without his signature.
BILL WAS CONSTITUTIONAL
Attorney General Palmer it was
said, had declared it constitutional.
But the President, propped up in ps1.
dictated and then signed a veto mes
sage and sent it along to Congress.
without worrying, apparently. about
what Congress might do
With repassage or the law by thc
House and the prospect of the same
4 thing happening in the Senate. hope
y of the big wet spell that would ,un
\ into thin air.
Prohibition leaders predicted that
the refusal of the House to accept the
Presidents veto meant that the sale
Of liquor would not be permitted again
in the life of this and many other gen
erations. rse
The reasons for vetoing the act were
set forth by the President in the fol-
lowing message to Congress:
PRESIDENTS VETO MESSAGE
ITO the House of Representatives
Il am returning, without my sigma
ture, House Of Representatives
bill $50, An act to prohibit intoxicat-
ing beverages and to regulate The
manufacture production, use of high
wines and sale of high-pr spirits
for other than beverage purposes, and
to insure an ample supply of alcohol
and promote its use IN scientific re-
search and in the development OF fuel.
dye and other lawful industries.
The subject matter of the resolu-
ton treated in this message deals VIII
two distinct phases of prohibition.
One part of the act under considera-
ton seeks to enforce wartime pro-
hibition. The other provides for the
enforcement which was made >neces-
sary by the adoption of the constltu-
tonal anxehdment.
OBJECTS SATISFIED
Il object to and cannot approve that
part Of this legislation with reference
to wartime prohibition 1t has to do
with the enforcement of an act which
was passed by reason of the emergen-
cies of the war and whose objects
have been satisfied in the demobiliza-
ton of the army and navy, and whose
repeal 1 have already sought at the
hands of Congress. Where the purposes
of particular legislation, arising out of
war emergency, have been satisfied,
sound public policy makes clear the
reason and necessity for repeal.
1T will not be difficult for Con-
gress, in considering this important
matter. to separate these two questions
and effectively to legislate regarding
them. making the proper distinction
between temporary causes which
arouse out of wartime emergencies
and those like the constitutional
amendment of prohibition which IS
now part of the fundamental law of
the country.
in all matters having to do with
the personal habits and customs Of
large numbers of our people. we must
be certain that the established pro-
cesses Of legal change are followed. In
(Cnnfiwu>S - u~~~ r-oN