Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-29

on.
In a cablegraln made public last night
at the White House. the President
said he was convinced after consulta-
ton with his legal advisers that he
had no authority to act at this time.
when rehabilitation is termi-
Mated" he continued, my power to
act without congressional action will
be exercised" =
The message expressed no opinion
as to the authority Of the President.
when he does raise the ban, to make
his action applicable only to beer and
wine.
Makes Presidents Cable Public.
Secretary Tumulty gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
THE secretary to the President, At
the White House tonight. made public
the following cable from the Presi-
dent with reference to wartime pro-
hibition:
1T am convinced that the Attorney
General is right in advising me that
have no legal power at this time
in the matter of the ban on liquor.
Under the act of November. 1918, my
power to take action is restricted
The act provides that after June &c..
1919. until the Conclusion of the
present war and thereafter until the
Termination of rehabilitation. the
date Of which shall be determined
and proclaimed by the President. il
shall be unlawful, ETC."
This law does not specify tisat the
ban shall be lifted with the signing
Of peace, but with the termination Of
the rehabilitation Of the troops. and
I cannot say that that has been ac-e
complished. My information from the
War Department is that there are
still a million men in the service un-
der the emergency call. 1t is clear.
therefore. that the failure of Congress
to act upon the suggestion contained
in my message of the goth of May.
1919, asking for a repeal Of the act of
November Fl, 1918. SO far as it APP
plies u W ines anu UCCAp udhCS IL AiAA
possible to act in this matter at this
time. ~
when rehabilitation is terminal
ed. my power to act without congyes-
sional action will be exercised.
WOODROW WILSON,"
Every Liquor Door in q. s. to Close
Refusal of President Wilson to act.
at this time means that the long arm
of the wartime law will reach out
quietly at midnight Monday and close
the door Of every liquor establish
ment on American soil.
Next in public interest to an
nouncement of the Pre- ident's atti-
tude comes the quest S-how soon
will the Army be demobilized? There
was a strong belief in some quarters
last night that this date would not be
long delayed. in view of the signing
of the treaty. the action of Congress
in reducing the sise of the standing
Army. and the effort of the govern
ment to bring back all troops from
abroad just as speedily as it 10 hu-.
The Presidents emphatic announce
ment as to what he would do when
Rehabilitation ''is terminated" was
exactly in line with the opinion of
members of the House Judiciary COM
.mittee expressed heretofore-that is
did not require congressional action
to. authorize him to declare wartime
prohibition ended. 49,.
Predict Open Saloons This Summer.
This may come. it was pointed out.
much sooner than most people imaEsss
Inc, and there were predictions last !,
night that saloons in cities where
the sale Of liquor now is permitted
might be in operation by the end of
the summer They could not operate.
however, beyond January 16, 1920. for
on that date the country will become
dry by constitutional amendment.
- With all doubt removed as to what
the President would or would not do.
anti hibitionists in the House pre-.
pared 10 make the'best fight possihIss
on the general prohibition enforce
ment bill, which was reported out
by the judiciary committees,
It VIII not ybe taken. up on the floor
until after the short holiday recess,
which means the government Will de-
pend upon present laws for enforce
ment of the wartime. act. Warning
already has been, given that these
provide ample penalties and ample
y -