The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-30
CITY PREPARING
TO BID ADIEU TO
LIQUOR TONIGHT
Thousands Figuring How
Soon DemObilizatiOn Will
End Dry Period.
RUSH FOR HOTEL TABLES
Celebration Plans Take Spurt
Here-SOme to Continue
Beer and Wine Sale.

With the cabled announcement from
President Wilson that the war time
prohibition ban will not be removed
until rehabilitation actually is COM
plete, the two classes most interested
in New York the dealers and the
day as to just how long that process
should take.
In the apparent unlikelihood OF Con-
gressional repeal of war time prohibi
ton the only hope held out to-day
the last on which intoxicating liquor
may be sold legally-by the vets lay
in the early completion of demobiliza-
ton and the fulfilment OF the Presi-
dents cabled promise when that be-
comes a fact.
The public yesterday appeared di-
for early rehabilitation. and the ex-
tremists among the drys who pray
now that it will not be effected until
January 16. the day before the ma
effective.
Competent opinion is that at least six
or seven weeks must elapse before the
army is demobilized and that 1t will be
the middle or end OF August before the
Secretary of War will so declare. To
some extent this will depend upon the
number of men Congress determines
III
army. The larger this number shall be
the fewer men II will be necessary to
discharge or muster out but in any
event something like 100000 men will
have to be transferred to civil life, and
this process. authorities said yesterday.
would in all probability take six or seven
weeks unless army red tape was cut
short to meet the situation.
Demobilization Estimated.
The Association Opposed to National
Prohibitions, OF which Col. Michael Fried
sam is the head, estimated last night
that rehabilitation could not be COM
pleted. at the rate 1t now is progressing,
until September 90 Statistics obtained
OF June % there were a few more than
$4,000 officers and men still to be de-
modified. The rehabilitation, the as
sociation said. Is being conducted at the
rate Of S32, 900 officers and men a month,
This conclusion" said the associa
tion's statement in reference to It's est
mate that rehabilitation would be com
plete by September 20, 'is arrived at on
the supposition that the usual and regu-
lar rate of rehabilitation will be main
tained. On August 23, $4,000 OF the
$4,000 will have been mustered out.
leaving $4,000 still to be mustered out
in the following month"
The Presidents announcement came
with something like a shock to the liquor
men and the consuming public. For
some unknown reason these people held
to the belief that New York could not
and would not go dry with the suddenness
that 1t must tonight If the law is to be
complied with to the letter.
Peace signed to-day and the country
goes dry tomorrow. Whatcha know
about that" "'Tain't IN the cards. tell
you; 'tain't in the cards" These and
similar expressions of incredulity and
disgust were heard throughout the
white light district all day yesterday as
the news got around that tonight Mt
midnight, or o'clock tomorrow morning
at the latest. the last Tickey and the last
highball must be gulped and once more
the appellations Manhattan and Bronx
will refer exclusively to two boroughs of
the largest dry city in the world.
Definite word that the ban would not
be lifted by Presidential proclamation
directed attention again yesterday TO the
terms and conditions OF the war time
prohibition measure and the mistaken
belief held that no penalty is provided
for violations OF tho law. The law pro-
vides that Imprisonment not exceeding
one year and fine OF $1,000. or both.
may be imposed upon conviction. and
this fact, It was said yesterday, will be
Continued on Stzth Po0e.