Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-01
Attorney General
PQlmer'sS Statement
The attorney generals statement

Inc attorney generals SCdISluOuS
said:
After today it. will be unlawful to
sell for beverage purposes any distill-
ed spirit and any beer, wine. or 9TH
er intoxicating malt or vinous liquor,
except for export. This prohibition
will continue under the terms of the
law Until the conclusion of the pres
mination of demobilization.' AS long
as the law thus remains in force, it
must be obeyed, and I intend that the
department. of justice shall do its ut
most to perform the duty which the
congress has placed upon it.
Law Held Constitutional.
This law has been held to be con-
stitutional and valid by the circuit
court of appeals sitting in New York.
1t plainly makes unlawful the sale of
whiskey, brandy, and other distilled
spirits and wine. The only controver-
sy that has arisen as to whether the
sale of beer containing so little al
is prohibited. The governments con-
tention has been that the act prohibits
the manufacture and sale of beef con-
talnlng as much as one-half of one
per cent alcohol, but the interpreta-
ton Of the act is not free from diff
hculty and I am endeavoring to have
the question settled by the courts al
. II
course with respect to beer containing
less than two and three-quarters per
cent of alcohol-which it is claimed
is not intoxcating-will depend upon
the ruling which will 500 be made
by the district courts in which cases
are now pending or in which other
cases may be brought. I nave no
power to grant amnesty to any who
may see fit to manufacture or sell
beer pending an authoritative judicial
construction Of the law, and 1 am
sure that brewers and dealers gener-
ally understand that the tendency Of
litigation will be no protection against
law.
To Prosecute Law violators.
But with respect to whiskey, brandy
and other distilled spirits. wine and
peer containing more than two and
three-quarters per cent of alcohol,
and other Intoxicating malt or vinous
liquors, the prohibition is beyond con-
troversy and but one course is open
to thedepartnaent ofjustice. All per-
sons found selling such liquors must
be arrested and prosecuted. The dis
trlct attorneys will cause warrants to
issue for all offenders as to whom ev-
idence is furnished by the bureau of
investigation, the agents of the inter-
nal revenue bureau Of the easur
department. local officers or others.
ard the marshals and their deputies
viii promptly serve such warrants.
With the cooperation of local au-
thorities. it is believed that the law
can be made effective. For this rea-
son l call attention to the fact that it
is the duty of local arresting officers
to make arrests for offenses commit
ted in their presence whether the Of
be against the laws of the state
or the laws Of the United States. I
confidently expect the hearty cooper
alton of local municipal authorities
and earnestly request that all police
OFFICES be instructed to arrest persons
found selling in violation Of the war
prohibition act and to lake such per
sons before a United States commits
sloner, the district attorney will
u warrants to issue. Local Off
ecrs should also report to the United
States attorneys evidence of onenses
not committed in their presence.