The Topeka state journal., 1919-10-27
PRESIDENT KILLS
ENFORCEMENT OF
new PROHIBITION
Wilson Objects to Wartime
Provision in Act.
Says Emergency Creating Its
Necessity Has Passed.
TOOK LAST MINUTE ACTION
j Bill Would Have Automatically
Become Law Tuesday Night.
! Considered One of Most Drastic
Pieces of L. S. Legislation.
.rT nsrAaIo 1usyrT SrHsfr "a
Bill Would Have Automatically
Become Law Tuesday Night.
Considered One of Most Drastic
Pieces of Z. S. Legislation.
IT MEANS A "WET SPELL
That Is Official Opinion as TO
Result of Veto.
Congress Passing Bill Over
Veto Would Take Time.

Washington, Oct. 27.-Presi-
dent Wilson today vetoed the
prohibition enforcement bill.
The president vetoed the bill
because of that part of the leg
islation which refers to wartime
prohibition.
81 object to and cannot ap-
prove that part of the legislation
with reference to wartime pro-
hibition," said the president in a
statement addressed to the
house explaining his veto.
1T has to do with the enforce
ment of an act which was passed
by reason of the emergencies of
the war and whose objects have
been satisfied in. the demobiliza-
tion of the army, the navy, and
whose repeal | have, already
sought at the hands of con-
gress."
The Interpretation of the veto
in official circles was that unless
congress repasses the bill over
the presidents veto or inn
mediately enacts a similar meas
ure, which becomes law, there
will be "a wet speIl' until ma
tional prohibition becomes ef-
fectiye under the constitutional
amendment in January!
Acted just In Time.
Had the president not acted on the
/ measure before midnight tomorrow. 1t
automatically would have become a
law without his signature ten days
! later.
/ The bill-onc of the most drastic
pieces of legislation ever before con-
gress-made it a crime to sell liquor
or any patent medicine or compound
! fit for beverage purposes If it con-
| tanned more than one-half of ! per
cent alcohol.
l Violations would be investigated by
internal revenue commissioners and
| the department of justice as well as
given the duty of prosecuting offend
ers.
Places where liquor was sold were
declared common npisances and the
owner OF the property as well as the
tenant is ma de liable.
; The bill gave the department of
ustice machinery which II believes
adequate to enforce the wartime pro
hibition act which went into effect
July j.
/ The Presidents statemcnt.
The presidents veto message fol-
flows:
To the house of representa- tives:
81 am returning without my sigma
ture H. R.-6S10 an act to prohibit
Intoxicating beverages. and 20 regulate
the manufacture. producfion.g use and
sale of high spirits for other than bey-
erage purposes, and to insure an am
4 pie supply of alcohol and promote its
use in scientific research aud in, the
development of fuel, dye and other
lawful industries ~
The subject matter treated in this
measure deals with two distinct phases
of the prohibition legislation. One
part of the act under consideration
seeks TO enforce wartime prohibition
The other provides for the enforce.
ment which was made necessary By
the adoption of the constitutions
amendment. 7 object to and cannot
approve that. part of this Legislation
. with reference to war time prohibi'
At