The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-20
Listen, President May Lift War
Time Booze Ban!
Oasis To Spring Up\When the
Treaty Is Ratified.
AUSTRIA WAR DOESN'T COUNT
Millions of Gallons of whisky
Will FIow-Oh, Boy!
Dry Bill, Most Drastic Law,
Goes to Wilson Today.

Washington, Oct 2O.-There is a
very slight chance that President Will
son will raise the wartime dry ban be-
fore constitutional prohibition be-
comes effective in January. it was
learned from responsible sources to-
day
Upon ratification of the German
treaty,a the president may proclaim
peace even tho the United States still
is at war technically with Austrian ac-
cording to this information. DecIara-
ton of peace would make possible the
lifting of the ban.
Millions of Gallons of 1t!
Those favoring a wet spot" pro-
fessed to believe the president would
not be bound by a technical state of
war with Austria. or any otheE tech
nicaliios in declaring peace. after the
German treaty is accepted by the SEN
ate.
However. it was learned that the
Austrian state of war has been almost
completely overlooked by government
officials in figuring on when the war
could be officially declared ended.
Wilson Is expected to- TASK the depart
ment of justice for an opinion on the
subject before he acts to declare
peace.
'hould the ban be lifted. millions of
gallons of whisky and other spirits
now Held in bonded warehouses;. pos
sibly would Ngo on the market.
Dry Bill to White House.
Washington, Oct. 2O.-The prohibit
ton law, deemed one of the most
sweeping acts ever passed by con-
! gress, was expected to be sent to the
White House today by Attorney Cen
! eral Palmer, who has been investig;at-
+ ing its constitutionaity.
The plan, it was learned. is to have
the bill remain at the White House
until October %, when it becomes eff
| fective even without President Will
sons signature. From reliable quar-
! tiers there has been no hint of a veto.
Under this law-on October %. at
! the latest, it would become illegal to
manufacture or sell liquor containing
more than one-half of one per cent
| alcohol or any patent medicines or
| other compounds, fit for beverage
purposes, containing more than that
amount of>alcohol.
U. S, to Probe Violations.
| Violations are to be investigated by
! commissioners of internal revenue and
reported to local United States at
torneys. Commissioners are author
| lied to swear out warrants giVin g
| them a right to search for liquor and
| arrest the offenders.
| The alcoholic liquids not deemed IL
legal are denatured alcohol. medicinal
preparations, if unfit for beverage
purposes, which must have the guam
| tity of alcohol contained printed on
each package, flavoring extracts unfit
! for beverage use, vinegar and pre-
! served sweet cider
Liquor manufactured before the bill
| goes into effect may remain in/United
States bonded warehouses, and the
| alcohol content reduced to bring it
within the law, or withdrawn to be
denatufed.
Even Name peer" Must Go. =
Beer containing less than one-half
of 1 per cent alcohol. may be sold but
not under the name of beer, ale or
porter.
Places where intoxicating ingredi<
erts are to be sold are to be declared
common nuisances and the fines inn
posed shall rest as liens against the
property, If the owner has guilty
| knowledge of what is going on in his
building. When such place is dis
covered the law provides that an in
junction may be issued to stop the
illicit sale and prevent removal OF
liquor.
Liquor which is seized may be de-
| stroyed or delivered to any govern
1 mental agency for medicinal, mechan-
ical or scientific uses. or sold to per
sons having permits to prescribe it fol
such purposes
DistiIIers and bonded warehouses
may, under the law, upon the films
| of a bond and the obtaining OF per
nit, be used as industrial aleoho
plants. The commissioner of iRterna
revenue is authorized to issue regula
lions governing industrial alcohol
| plants to prevent Illegal use of alcoho
and develop the non-beverage alcoho
/ industry.
More Drastic January 4.
| Penalties under the dry law are va
ried, ranging from prison sentences II
fines, according to what section Of
. the law is violated.
When the eighteenth amendment Il
the constitution goes into effect mex