New Britain herald., 1919-11-04
BAN MUST STAY ON
 TILL PEACE IS SIGNED
Wilson Is Unable to Change
 Meaning Of Law

asserted today at the White House end at the departm ent of justice that the president cannot legally lift the ban on liquor making and selling.
 If the senate adopts a German peace treaty ratification resolution tNut the president will approve and the Allied nations accept peace, the demObilization of the army be pro- claim ed, the war prohibition act will automatically expire. It was point ed out that the law plainly took all responsibility for war prohibition off the president by providing that the law shall be operative until the conclusion of the present war and thereafter until the termination of dem utilization. the date of which shall he determined and proclaimed by the president"
 Government officials were interested in a New York report that the pro- hibition restrictions would soon be lifted to save the whiskey loans of certain banks that hold large quan- titles of warehouse certificates, but they know of no foundation for it. It was explained that the president will not mention prohibition in his peace proclamation. The law was not of his ma king, and he can have no part Ill it's death further than to declare peace.
 May Wait for Peace With Austria.
 The reported jubilation of the vets and the bankers who have been financ- ing them is thought to come from the belief that the president will not wait for tho declaration of peace un- ril the treaty with Austria is ratified; that the German peace treaty ratin- cation will be considered the end of the 'present war; and a proclamation to that effect will be issued. The Anti Saloon league contends that the "present war" includes Austria and the war prohibition act will continue ir effect until a treaty with that coun- try is ratified.
 It is held by those who would close the period of wartime prohibition as soon as possible that it never was in tended that the law should be opera tive after the army was demobilized. The debates in the senate and house on the bill before a final agreement was reached they argue, show that. In a letter to Senator Sheppard at that time the officers of the Anti Saloon League said: We feel also that ample provision should be made 1OG continuing pIOulDlllOll uuIlllS Lilo period of dem obilization, which may be quite as important as during actual hostilities."
 When the bill was amended to in- clude the period of demobilization Senator Wadsworth asked Senator Sheppard why it read ''the termina- ton of demobilization."
 Ut was put in with view to the nI,oI hi p much sooner than we thought" ex- plained Mir. Sheppard.
 "Oh, then this is something more than war prohibition? " asked MT. Wadsworth.
 'No; I consider the period of de- mobilization part of the war" said Mir. Sheppard. ''It is the necessary aftermath of the war" "The senator has just said that it
 was put in with the plain idea that the war might end a little sooner than was anticipated insisted MT. Wadsworth.
 II meant by that the termination of actual hOstilities," responded MT. Sheppard
 May Reimburse Owners. It was stated at the bureau of in ternal revenue yesterday that it would be a physical impossibility for the 1 owners of the whiskey in bonded
 warehouses to dispose of 60,000,0O0 gallons in 60 days. Half that amount migh be handled. Attorneys repre- senting liquor interests believe that it l would be possible to dispose of at least 5O,OO0,00 of the 60,000,O00 gal Ions.
 Liquor interests here claim that the demand for liquor for export is very weak. Great Britain is making her own spirits from American grain and France is taking but little There is a growing sentiment here | that the government should make ! good the liquor in bonded warehouses l if the owners cannot dispose of it. 1 Some prominent government officials