The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-25
OPTIMISM REIGNS
AMONG VETS HERE
Hotel and Restaurant Men Ex-
pect Proclamation From
President.
WAITING FOR GUIDANCE
Anti-Saloon League Officials
Confident Lid Will Not \
Be Lifted.
WAITING FOR GUIDANCE

Wnllo Wlilthm II. Aluersoh anu ms
associates in the Anti-Saloon League
were busy yesterday putting the finish
Ing touches on the shroud with which
they hope to drape the supine figure OF
John Barleycorn at midnight next Mon
day. the hotel and restaurant men were
anxiously awaiting the arrival OF a tank
of oxygen with which they hope to sus-
tain life at least for six months.
The stimulating oxygen they expect in
the form OF Presidential proclamation
Of some sort, either by cable or wireless
that will declare rehabilitation COM
plete. and, they hope, lift the ban on all
forms OF alcoholic nourishment until
next January, when the national prohipi-
ton amendment becomes effective, or
until the constitutionality OF the amend
ment Is decided by the Supreme Court.
The liquor men were frankly optimis-
tic yesterday that something would occur
before Monday night that would enable
them to stay In business At meeting
yesterday morning of the Society OF Res
taurateurs this optimism was reflected
fairly generally, but none Of the repre-
sentatives of the liquor dealers would
state upon just what 1t vas based. A
member said:
1--WE will not discuss that or anything
that may tend to stir UP further activi-
ties on the part of the Anti-Saloon
League. We are hopeful that way out
will be found and our attitude is based
on reports that have reached us and
which in our opinion justify the hope.
Best Tangible Evidence.
That Is the way one of the officials OF
the Society of Restaurateurs expressed
himself to THE SUN. The best tangible
evidence that hope actually does exist in
the hearts OF the liquor men was seen in
the fact that the society at Its meeting
decided on no definite plan OF action, and
IL nothing in the way Of a Presidential
proclamation is promulgated before no
decision il likely to be reached untit
Monday.
The telephone at the society's head
quar- tiers yesterday was In practically
constant use, liquor men from all sec
tians Of the city calling up to know what
had been decided upon and whether any
thing definite had been heard. Mean
time they are living in hopes. The fu-
ture course Of the members of the liquor
dealers fraternity will be determined
largely by the advice of counsel. who
have had the situation under considera-
ton for several months.
1t may be that in the absence OF any
message from the President. counsel Will
advise rigorous adherence to the law I'M
til such time as rehabilitation is de-
clared complete and the war terminated
This, the hotel men believe, must follow
within three weeks in any event, In
which case tho dry spell will last only
until this happens, they argue. Or It
may be that counsel will advise that the
sale OF liquor may continue next Tues
day and until such time as test cases
may be made OF the law.
The decision OF counsel is awaited with
almost equal interest by certain sections
OF tho public and the hotel men, al
though 1t has been pointed out that
there Is nothing that will compel men,
bers OF tho hotel mems organization to
accept and act on the advice of counsel
should that be to keep open after Mon
day night for the sale OF intoxicating
liquor.
on the other hand, the Anti-Saloon
League officials profess to see no way
in which even the President can alter
the present status OF the matter. They
point to his message to the Congress in
which he stated that he was advised
that he was without power to rescind
the wartime prohibition measure as far
as 1t affected light wines and beer
Tney also hold to the belief that the
President is without power to declare the
war at end until the treaty OF peace is
ratified by the United States Senate.
MI. Caney's View.
United States Attorney Francis q.
Cafey. upon whom will rest the respon-
sibility for the application OF the law.
holds the same opinion. MIR. Caffey
pointed out yesterday that although the
civil war was technically ended by the
surrender of Appomattox on April Q,
1855. the courts held that the war was
not actually terminated until April, 1866,
in the case OF South Carolina, and Au-
gust, 1855, In the case of Texas. SINH
vi AAx- "a 4