Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-12
HOLDS
FEDERAL DRY
ACT ILLEGAL


Vets Win First Round
just as Roper Starts
His Campaign.
Providence. R. l., Nov. 12.-Judge
Arthur L. Brown in the federal
district court today issued tenn
porary Injunction against Harvey
A. Baker. United States attorney.
and George F. Shaunnesy. collector
of internal revenue, restraining
them from enforcing the provisions
OF the wartime prohibition act. The
Injunction was issued upon the
petition Of the Narragansett Brew
ing company.
The sale Of per cent beer was
Immediately resumed by Providence
liquor dealers.
The court in handing down its
decision said:
I'm view Of the probability. that
the act in questionwill ultimately
be held unconstitutional and Of the
1rreparable damage that would re-
suit from Its immediate enforce
ment, and as. in view OF the evi-
dence afforded by the presidential
proclamations and other circum-
stances, its immediate enforcement
is not imperative, / am convinced
that the plaintiffs right to q pre-
liminary injunction IL clear"
The decree will be entered to-
morrow, when Il will hscome eff
.fecttte. -. ia
First Court RuNing. 81
The opinion is the first construc-
tion Of the veistead -tpsohibitian
enforcement) ct handed down BY
any court In the country. While
nominally It restrains the federal
officials in this jurisdiction from
enforcing title one Of that act Of
the Narragansett Brewing COM
pany. it virtually states the belief
of the court that the entire wal
time prohibition act is unconstitu.
tional and can not be enforced.
More Of Same.
Louisville, KY, Nov. 12.-Federal
Judge Walter Evans in open court
declared here today he is firmly o,
the opinion" wartime prohibition
is unconstitutional and indicated .
disposition to enjoin Elwood Hamil.
ton, collector Of internal revenue
for Kentucky, from interfering with
the sale of about 100000 gallons
of tax-paid whisky known as "fioo1
stock"
Ohioan Leads Forces.
Washington, NOV. 12.-John F
! Kramer. an attorney Of Mansfield
Ohio, has been appointed fedora
prohibition commissioner in direci
charge Of the enforcement of wal
time and constitutional prohibition
Mr.. Kramer, who formerly was .
member of the Ohio legislature
te1egraphed Senator Pomerene
Democrat, Ohio, today, accepting
the appointment and announcing
that he would begin his duties mex
week.
The commissioner will work un.
der the bureau Of internal revenue
and will have charge of the field
force which will be used in enforc.
ing both the temporary and con
stitutional dry laws.
Daniel @. Roper, commissioner oI
internal revenue, today made pub
lie plans for enforcement of pe9
hibition. -
Mr.. Kramer will have a. aids ar
executive field force Of nine super.
visins federal prohibition agent.
and a prohibition director in eacf
state. The supervising fedora
agents will have Jurisdiction ovel
nine territorial units into which
the country has been divided.
Under the direction Of the super
vising agents. will be a mobile
force of federal agents which viii
be sent from one point to another q.
| conditions warrant.
The territorial units are to b,
known as the northeastern; New
York, eastern, southern. gulf, cen
trail. northwestern, Southwestern
and Pacific.
States included in the centra
department are Indiana, Michigan
Illinois and Wisconsin.
"The policy Of the bureau OF in
ternal revenue will be to rcinf0rc,
local efforts to the extent neces
sary to secure proper enforcement
of the law" Mr.. Roper said. "N'
state, county or municipal oflicel
will be relieved of !. responsible,
and every oficer OF the federal gov
ernment Of every state, county ant
city must be surcharged with tn,
full responsibility Of a prohibition
enforcement ofncer."
The commissioners program
leaves no doubt that where stat
officials or city or county ofncial
do not enforce the law. vigorously
the federal government representa-
tives will 2roceed In their own wa,
to drive out illicit liquor sellers.
Mr.. Roper In his statement asks
for the cooperation Of all religious
social. fraternal, labor and civic or
ganixationsi IN preventing the Il
legal sale. Of htcxicants.