Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-10-28
President Says Objects
of Suppressing Liquor
in War Have Been Ac-
complished.
Senate Leaders Believe
They Can Muster Votes
Also to Re-Enact Mea~
sure; Palmer O. K. on 1t.

Washington, Oct. 27.-Presi-
dent Wilson Unexpectedly vetoed
the prohibition enforcement bill
today and within three hours
the house had repassed it over
his veto by majority of 176 to
55. The total vote was barely
more than majority Of the en-
tire membership.
Dry leaders in the senate i'm
mediately began laying plans to-
repass the bill there. They ex-
pect to ask unanimous consent
for its consideration tomorrow,
claiming enough votes to put it
through. They expect to act on
it by Wednesday, at the latest.
The president refused to sign the bill
because it included the enforcement Of
wartime prohibition. The objects of
wartime prohibition, the president said
in his veto had been satisfied, and
sound public policy makes clear the rea-
son and necessity Of its repeal 1t
would not be difficult, the president held.
for congress to deal separately with the
two issues.
Like Crack OF Lightning.
The veto hit congress like crack Of
lightning. The house, getting on it's 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 overwhelming
IL
ernment ample weapons for dealing with
the liquor traffic, now outlawed through
out the land.
Valid Law, Says Palmer.
Nobody had really professed to know
that the president would veto the bill
Republicans and democrats alike-and
the countless multitude that had sorrow
fully watched the passing Of the bars
thought it would become q law without
his signature.
Attorney General Palmer, it was said.
had declared it constitutional.
But the president, propped up in bed.
dictated and then signed veto message
and sent it along to congress. without
worrying apparently about what con-
gress might do.
Wet Spell In Doubt
With repassage of the law by the
house and the prospect of the same thing
happening In the senate, hope of the
wet spell that would run over the
Christmas season vanished into thin air.
Prohibition leaders predicted, tonight.
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 genera
tions.
One hope remains for the talked-of
wet spell'' before prohibition becomes
effective by constitutional amendment 1t
is that the German peace treaty may
be ratified and that the president may
declare peace and rehabilitation of the
army and navy. Some legal experts con
tend that would automatically annul the
wartime prohibition law
Austrian Treaty May Block It.
But there is a legal question involved
as to whether the ratification Of the
treaty with Germany alone will accom-
plish that end. The wartime prohibition
act was passed at a time when the
United States was at war with both
Germany and Austria Hungary Hestil-
tiles. however. have actually ceased. but
some law officers here are inclined to
beileve that it may not be ended until
both treaties are ratified
On the other hand. friends of the ad-
ministration who profess to know its
plans, say they expect TO see the war
time prohibition ban lifted by presidential
proclamation as soon as the German
treaty is ratified.
Means Half per Cent.
Word that the enforcement act had
failed to meet presidential approval was
flashed from the White House a few
minutes before i o'clock an hour or
more before it was officially laid before
the house Instantly wet and dry forces
Continued on Page Two)
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