The Washington times., 1919-11-03

If Ohio should reverse the action of
their legislature upon the question OF
and IL the Supreme Court
should hold that their action is valid.
In the first place. according to counsel
for the vets, the United States Secre-
tary Of State would have to issue
new proclamation declaring the
Eighteenth Amendment ratified and
would have to substitute one of the
States which ratified subsequently, to
January 16. 1919, for Ohio, which, as
stated, was among the orig
inal thirty-six States whose action
was the basis for the first proclama-
ton.
Might Delay Drought q Year.
And these same lawyers contend
that the amendment would not go in
to effect until one year after the is
suance of the new proclamation
which would be a year from some fu-
ture date, yet unfixed.
That the dry leaders are deeply con-
cerned over this possibility is indi.
Gated by the frantic efforts which they
are making to secure a majority in
the Ohio election supporting the &C
ton of the legislature. William J.
Bryan, A few days ago made a public
appeal to friends in the Senate to
override the Presidents veto of the
enforcement act, saying that failure
to do so would have an important
bearing upon the Ohio situation
white Sees Danger.
James A. White. the Ohio Anti
Saloon League superintendent, has
been quoted as saying:
'aThe drys are awake to the fact
that IL the United States Supreme
Court sustains the Ohio supreme court
IN its ruling that the action of the
general assembly in ratifying the
Federal prohibition amendment is sub
Jet to referendum and that If ten
States out of the fifteen having the
initiative and referendum provision
hen fail to ratify. national prohibit
ion will be defeated"
II the citizens Of ten OF the forty
I've States express their disapproval
II the ratification resolution. and II
heir action is sustained by the United
States Supreme Court, then only
.hirty-five will have legally ratified
the measure. and II having failed to
receive three-fourths Of the forty
eight States, the Eighteenth amend
nent will have been rejected.
Odds Are Against VETS.
It must be admitted that the odds
are against the vets in this particu-
lar speculation. This is indicated by
the roll call OF the fifteen States
which have the initiative and refer
endum. They are Michigan, Ohio,
Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colo
RADIO, Nebraska Washington, Cali
,ornia, Nevada, Maine, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Utah and Idaho. The refer
endum proceedings have been thrown
put in Oregon, Utah and Idaho al
ready. and no appeal has been taken
In any OF the three cases to the United
States Supreme Court At last ac-
counts petitions had been filed in
seven of the necessary ten States and
were being circulated for signatures
In several others.
The most which the vets actually
hope for is a favorable verdict from
the people of Ohio, and a decision
from the Supreme Court sustaining
that verdict. The first half of this
vote is counted Tuesday. For the an
swer to the other half all interests
will have to await the pleasure of the
Supreme Court.
II Ohio sustains its legislature the
fight will be about 90 per
cent over, and IL the court sustafns
he dry contention the fight will be
100 per cent over. But IL both the
people and the court go against the
there is a reasonable