New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
Seven Dry Legislatures
Yet TO Act Are Expected
to Give Six More Needed
VETS Form Organization
Move Started to Force Sub
mission of Referendum
i'm Is Commonwealth

to-day, by completing ratification of
the Federal "bone dry" amendment,
virtually assured national prohibition.
Six more legislatures must ratify be-
fore the amendment becomes a law.
Seven dry states are yet to take action,
but nearly all, if not all, are expected
to vote for the amendment, thus as
suring its passage
To-day's report of six states is the
largest in one day since the amend
ment was submitted to the legislatures.
Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Ind
lana, Illinois and Arkansas completed
action on the bill, and the Utah House
of Representatives and the Nebraska
Senate voted for ratification. A test
vote in the Wisconsin Legislature
showed that the amendment will be
ratified tomorrow.
States Acting to Date
The states which have ratified the
amendment are Kentucky, Virginia,
Mississippi, South Carolina, North Da-
kota, Montana, Idaho. Maryland, Ari-
zona, Delaware, Texas, South Dakota,
Massachusetts,, Georgia, Louisiana,
Florida, Michigan. Ohio, Oklahoma,
Maine, Tennessee, West Virginia,
Washington, California. Kansas, North
Carolina, Indiana, Alabama. Arkansas
and Illinois. Total, 80.
Dry states whose legislatures have
not yet taken action on the amendment
are New Hampshire, New Mex
leo, Nebraska, Nevada, Colorado, Utah
and Wyoming. Total, T.
Action to-day by the Illinois House
of Representatives was by vote of
81 to 66, the Senate having acted last
week. The Arkansas Senate adopted
unanimously the resolution ratifying
The amendment, which was passed by
the House yesterday. Following yes
terday's Endorsement by the Indiana
Senate, Asae House to-day ratified by
cote Of 81 to Il.
ii Colorado, after some irregularity
the amendment resolution has passed
ih House and reached the third read
i l.. The Senate. which is scheduled to
IIGce tomorrow.
Restraining Order Issued
California the Assembly refused
70 reconsider it's action of last night
completing ratification of the amend
mert. Although disposed of by the
Legislature. a temporary order re-
straining Governor William D. Ste
phens from certifying the legislative
ratification was issued in San Francis
co. Hearing was set for January 20.
Opposition to the national amend
meEt is increasing, the "wets" effecting
permanent organization in Chicago OF
committee to fight national prohibi-
ton Officers Of the distilers' com.
ni,tee are Samuel Woolner, OF Peoria,
H., chairman; Henry NJ. Naylon,
Rochester vice chairman; George F.
Deterle, Cincinnati, secrctary-trcasur-
or; Levy Mayer, Chicago, chief coun-
Sci
Resolutions adopted by the commit
tee declare that fifteen OF the states
which already have ratified the prohi-
o:tion amendment or are about to dc
50 have laws requiring the submission
IT the question to the voters, and de-
clarel that legal steps would be taken
to compel the referendum Of the
amendment in these states. The com
mi.tee will meet January % in New
York
Politicians Are Mystified
Politicians here are frankly mystified
every day by mail from their "wet" con-
shtuents which breathes optimism
Out in the country" said one 'wet"
Senator tonight, folks seem to think
me returning soldiers, fresh from OBJ
servatiot of the benefits of light wines
IN France, arc going to upset this pro-
h'nition steam roller. They are not
gong TO do anything Of the sort. In
'ne hrst place they win not be united,
ana III the second place they won't get
mere IN time. The Federal amendment
u being ratified by legislatures. not bv
popular votes, and the very essence Of
practical politics is that to vote for a
moral reform never loses q candidate
s9tes. but that to vote against it is
almost suicide.
-, 20 tnat even IL the soldiers were
81 81 Daek, and all against prohibition,
ssinsy could not stop it. But venture
M, Ms prediction that the dry amendment
III De ratified by the six more states
y needs while we have still nearly a
"isiion men in France"