South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-29
Executive Declares He Has No
Legal Right at Present
Time.
TO EXERCISE RIGHT LATER
Makes it Plain That Law is
Operative Until Demobil-
ization is Completed.
BY Associated Press

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON. June 2S-Prest
Wilson announced tonight that ne
would not suspend operation OF the
war time prohibition law. effective
Monday at midnight The president
in a cablegram 10 the white house
said
Il am convinced that the attorney
general is right in advising me that
I have no legal power at this time in
the matter Of the ban on liquor"
Terms Of the war time prohibition
law do not allow him 10 act, Pres't
Wilson said. until the termination Of
the rehabilitation of the troops and
he cannot say that that has been ac-
complished
Will Act Later,
My information from the war
department" continued the mess
age. lis that there are still a million
men in the service under the emery
ency call.
When rehabilitation is termi-
mated, the president said, my pow
or TO act without congressional ac-
ton viii be exercised.
The secretary TO the president az
the White House tonight made pub
lie the following cable from the
president with reference 10 war time
prohibition.
Attorney General Right.
Il 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 restrict
ed. The act provides that after
June go. 1919. until the conclusion
OF the present war and therearter
until the termination Of demobiiiza-
tion. the date Of which shall be de-
termined and proclaimed by the
president. il shall be unlawful etc.
This law does not specify that
the ban shall be lifted with the
signing OF peace but with the term
ination Of the disqualification OF the
troops. and I cannot say that that
has been accomplished Ny infor-
nation from the war department Is
that there are still million men in
the service under the emergency
call. Il Is clear therefore that the
failure Of congress TO act upon the
suggestion contained in my mess
age Of the goth Of May 1919. ask
ing for a repeal OF the act or Nov
/ q, 1918, 20 far as b. applies 20 wines
and beers. makes IL impossible 20 act
at this time
When demobilization Is !ermi-
mated. my power 10 act without con-
/ gressional action will Doc exercised
Woodrow Wilson"
To Close saloons.
Refusal OF Prest Wilson 20 act
/ at this time means that the long
| arm Of the war time law Will reach
out quietly at raidnight Monday and
| close the dor Of every liquor house
! on American soil
Next IN public Interest 20 an
I nouncement Of the presidents aat-
+ tude comes the question how soon
/ viii the army De demOtlized?
/ There was "a strong belief IN some
quarters tonight that this date would
not be long delayed in view OF The
signing OF the treaty. the action IL
/ congress in reducing the size ~ The
army and the effort OF the govern
ment 70 bring back all troops from
abroad as speedily az b. is possible
20 bring them.
The presidents emphatic an
nouncement as 20 what ne would do
when Generalization is terminated. 20
was exactly 100 line with the opin-
ion Of mem bers Of the house 5udic.-
arg committee expressed heretofore
that it did not require congress
ionaI action 20 authorize him 70 de-
clare war time prohibition ended
This may comic % was pointed
. out. much sooner than most people
imagine. and there were predictions
tonight that saloons in cities where
the sale ~ liquor now IS permitted
might be in operation before the end
OF the simmer. They cannot oper-
ate. however beyond Jan. IS. 1929.
( for on that date the country viii oe
dry ty constitutional amendment
president STARTS HOME.