Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-05
'DRYS' FOLLOW UP
VICTORY IN HOUSE
Enforcement Legislation
Engaging Attention of
Anti-Liquor Forces
BILLS BEING DRAFTED
Both Sides in Fight Over What
Really Constitutes an AL.
coholic Drink


Harrisburg. Feb. with the Fed
eral prohibition amendment disposed of.
the wet" and dry" forces in the House
are now preparing their lines for the
battle over the enforcement laws and
regulatory measures which will be nee
essary TO make prohibition a reality.
Jubilant over their victory of yester-
day, the anti-liquor forces are getting
ready to draft bills which will put teeth
in the prohibition law.
The present plan Of the "drys" In not
to rush this legislation. but to have It
prepared carefully and submit 1t to the
Legislature some time this month.
Both the "wets" and "drys" plan to
submit bills which will aim to define Just
what constitutes an alcoholic drink.
whether prohibition in Pennsylvania Is
rea. or only part prohibitory depends
upon the kind OF a law the Legislature
enacts on this question.
To Fight for Beer and Wines
The vets" will fight to put through
bill which will permit the sale OF beer
and light wines. This will be attempted
through the introduction Of a measure
which will define an alcoholic drink as q
liquor containing something over or
per cent Of alcohol.
The "drys" will attempt to define an
alcoholic drink as a beverage without
any kick at all. The next big fight
on the prohibition issue Is bound to come
on the question of defining what con-
stitutes an Intoxicating liquor"
Another measure likely to be intro.
duced by the 'drys' will pertain to the
right OF search. granting the right to
forcibly enter any place against which
complaint has been made and searcr
for liquor.
At present the wet" program is lin.
tied to the proposed measure defining
an alcoholic beverage and n bill now
before the Legislature providing for the
return OF license fees X prohibition zoe.
into effect before license periods expire
Only the amount for unused months
of the license period would be returned
Representative Vickerman, leader OF
the dry" forces in the State, today said
that he was not in favor of any extreme
legislation.
He declared there was no disposition
TO kick the liquor forces while they
were down." but added that some legis
IatlOn WOulQ De necessary 10 enforce the
prohibition laws. Measures to provide
for the enforcement, he said, would b,
introduced in about two weeks.
Liquor Men disappointed
Liquor men who fought the Wicker
man resolution to the last ditch are much
peeved over the result.
The liquor men contend that they hat
| the resolution defeated, provided tn,
big leaders kept hands Off When tn,
orders from a number of potentia
Republican leaders went out to spli
their delegations in the House the bot
tom dropped out of the vets" fight.
Much of the credit for the victory O
the "drys" is given TO Governor Sproul
His persistent declaration for tn,
amendment is believed to have lined III
Republican leaders who otherwise woulC
have let their followers vote agains
| the resolution.
Leaders of the anti-liquor forces ar
| confident now that the Senate will pas
the V.ckerman resolution by a substan
tial majority
Although they are making no claim
it is known that the dry leaders ar
counting on the votes of Senators Var
and Martin. of Philadelphia. Both o
Senator Martins members of the Hous
voted dry" and that is taken as a
indication that he will support the dry
resolution.