Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-01

also are closed.
Washington, July 1.-The whole
nation awoke today to a realiza-
ton of prohibition. The Danish
ment of the "eye opener" at the
bar, long ago forgotten in many
parts of the country, was all en-
bracing. Only those who had been
provident enough to stock up" in
! advance for the long drought or
who could find solace in 21z per
cent brew, were allowed to substi-
tute for their time-honOred
"bracer."
War time prohibition, banning for
the time being all distilled liquors
and leaving in a cloud of doubt
the future of beer was effective at
midnight. Exemption Of beer from
the list of forbidden beverages
came as a result of an 11th hour
announcement by the department or
justice that pending decisions in
present litigation to determine
whether a brew containing 2% per
cent of alcohol is intoxicating, no.
action would be taken toward stop
ping the sale of beer containing no.
more than that amount Of alcohol.
Light Drinks Permitted.
Thus. pending court decisions or
action by congress, defining intoxi-
eating beverages. sale Of the lighter
drinks will be permitted in states
in which there are no regulatory
laws until Jan. 16, 1920. when con
stitutional prohibition becomes ef-
fective.
When the attitude Of department
of justice officials toward beer be
came known last night, some Of the
prohibition advocates in congress
were in favor of abandoning the
plan to adjourn until July z, in or
der that the act to define what beV-
erages are intoxicating and provid-
ing for enforcement of the wartime
dry law, might be rushed through.
However, leaders refused to ac-
cept the proposal and the question,
at its earliest. cannot be considered
until next week.
\ viii Set Law Aside?
Then fight is promised as an
effort will be made to permit the
president to set aside the wartime
act insofar as it relates to light
wines and beer.
Celebration of the passing Of the
saloon in many cities throughout
the country lasted until early this
morning, although the actual sale
of liquors stopped at midnight
BrewerieS Still Making 1t.
st. Louis, Mo, July 1.-Thirteel
local breweries today continued the
manufacture of beer containing "a
per cent alcohol and the majority
of the saloons opened as usual, but
sold only beer and soft drinks. Tho
excise commissioner continued is
suing licenses upon which was
stamped notice that the permits ali
not authorize violation of the
claws of the United States"
The largest brewerfes here WI.
not resume manufacture Of the
beer unless it is decided that they
may legally do so, it was said.
Soft Drink ParlOrs Now.
Chicago, July More than s 1000
of Chicago's 5000 saloons opened
this morning for the sale of sof.
drinks. About 500 were converted
into ice cream parlors and resLau-
rants over night.
The supply of 2% per cent beer
was practically exhausted in yes
terday's celebration and IL was
said that the beverage was on safe
today in less than score of place..
Saloon keepers were undecided
what course to follow, and guided
largely by action brewers take. The
Chicago Brewers association
through it's president, William o.
Legner, said that it had not vet
been. decided whether the manu-
facture of ~ per cent beer woasd
be continued. Further legal advice
will be sought, il, is said, before a
definite policy is decided upon.