Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-28
HOUSE PASSES
 DRY BILL OVER
 WILSON'S VETO
Action Taken Within Three Hours After President Dis
 approved Measure.
SENATE MAY ACT
 ON THE BILL TODAY
Hope for Wet" Spell Between Pres- ent Time and Next January Dies Almost as Soon as
 Born.

Washington, Oct. 27.-President Wilson unexpectedly vetoed the pro- hibition enforcement bill today, and passed it over his veto by vote of 176 to 55. The total vote was bare ly more than a majority of the en- tire membership.
 Dry leaders in the senate imme- diately began laying plans to re- pass the bill there. They expect to ask unanimous consent for it's con- sideration tomorrow, claiming enough votes to put it through. They expect to act on it by Wednesday at the i latest.
 The president refused to sign the bill because it included the enforce ment of wartime prohibition. The objects of wartime prohibition, he said in his veto, had been satisfied, and "sound public policy makes clear the reason and necessity for it's re- peal"
 It would not be difficult, the president held. for congress to deal separately with the two issues. The veto hit congress like a crack of lightning. The house, getting on it's feet again, deserted it's leaders, who wanted to defer consideration until Thursday, so as to round up all the dry members. But the drys swept into the chamber and showed there was an overwhelming sentiment among them to give the government ample weapons for dealing with the liquor traffic, now outlawed through out the land.
 Nobody had really professed to know that the president would veto the bill. Republicans and democrats alike-and the countless multitude that had sorrowfully watched the passing of the bars-thought it would become a law without his sig nature. Attorney General Palmer, | it is said, had declared it constitu- | tional.
 But the president, propped up in bed, dictated and then signed veto message and sent it along to con- gress, without worrying. apparently, about what congress might do. Booze Forever Doomed. With re-passage of the law by the house and the pros pect of the same thing happening in the senate, hope of the biz "wet spell" that would run over the Christmas season, van- ished.
 Prohibition leaders predicted to- night that the refusal of the house to accept the presidents veto meant that the sale of liquor would not be 1 permitted again in the life of this and many other generations.
 One hope remains for the talked of "wet spell" before prohibition becomes effective by constitutional amendment in January. It is that the German peace treaty may be ratified and that the president may declare peace and demobilization of the army and navy. Some legal ex- perts contend that would automatic ally annul the wartime prohibition law.
 But there is a legal question in- volved as to whether the ratification of the treaty with Germany alone will accomplish that end. The war time prohibition act was passed at a time when the U. S. was at war with both Germany and Austro- Hun gary. Hostilities, however. actually had ceased. Some law officers here are inclined to believe that it may not he ended until both treaties are ratified.
 On the other hand. friends of the administration who profess to know it's plans say they expect to see the wartime prohibition ban lifted by presidential proclamation as soon as the German treaty is ratified.