New-York tribune., 1919-06-29
Many New York Saloon Men
Plan Business as Usual''
Tuesday, Relying ON Lack
of Enforcement Statute
Officials s'Dodge'' Issue
Dry Leaders Say Breaking of
July l Law Will Mean End
of Rum; Vets Optimistic

it will be entirely of his own volition,
and not tecause any representative of
any branch OF the government forces
reform on him.
All indications yesterday were that
wartime prohibition would come at
the stroke of midnight Monday for
those only who desire to see it come.
Those whose consciences do not COM
pei compliance with the law will not
be likely TO find any other agency to
compel them to eliminate the "kck"
from their favorite beverage.
thorough canvass of every gov
ernmental agency-Federal, State and
municipal-that might by any chance
be expected to force compliance with
the wartime prohibition measure
failed to reveal one that is making
a serious effort to prosecute sellers
OF alcoholic liquors. 1t was suggested
last night that the Department of
Justice might make q surprise attack
upon those who defy the law Tues
day.
Drys Are Optimistic
You never saw the time when a
man could openly defy Uncle Sam and
get away with it," was a favorite reply
of dry advocates in the face of threats
OF defiance from the liquor interests
But appeared to be the most tangible
foundation for the belief that dire re-
suits would result from the sale of
alcoholics in defiance of the prohibition
measure.
There are many indications that New
YORK Will -1ot be nearly as wet Tuesday
as Mond,y night. The majority of the
hotels VIII close their bars. Hundreds
OF saloons already have bowed to the
inevitable and will not open their
doors tomorrow morning. No govern
menr prosecutors will be necessary to
y -, Al
OF the most exclusive of the city's
dining places. In all of them the hope
that "something might happen still
was being cherished.
Here is summary of the attitude
OF those charged with the enforcement
OF the law, or vitality interested in the
operation Of the prohibition measure
as revealed during the day:
United States Attorney General
Made public the provisions of the
prohibition measure but made no
promise that it would be enforced.
William Ofley, chief of Depart
ment of Justice in New York-Will
take no action until called upon to
do so by the Attorney General.
Charles D. Newton, Attorney Cen
eral of New York-Left New York
for Albany yesterday without an
swering questions concerning his
attitude toward wartime prohibi-
ton. 1t was said he had decided
enforcement of the measure was
without his jurisdiction.
Mayor Hylan-Denicd himself to
interviewers as usual; was repre-
sented as taking no official attitude
on the subject.
Police Department-Will take no
action unless called upon by Federal
officials to assist some branch of the
national government in enforcing
the law.
William H. Anderson, representing
Anti-Saloon League-Will take no
steps to bring about enforcement of
the law; holds that defiance of the
measure by liquor interests will re-
act against them and aid cause of
prohibition.
Danger of $1,000 Fine
Officially, the saloonkeepcr who
elects to serve his patrons Tuesday
morning will lay himself open to prose-
cution with a possible penalty of
a term Of imprisonment not to ex-
ceed one year, or a fine of $1,000, or
both. AS given out by the Attorney
General yesterday, it will become ille-
gal to do any Of these things after
midnight tomorrow:
ITO sell for beverage purposes
any distilled spirits except for ex-
port.
ITO remove for beverage pur
poses distilled spirits held in bond,
except for export.
ITO use food products in the man
ufacture or production of beer.
wine, Or other Intoxicating malt or
vinous liquor for beverage purposes.
"To sell beer, wine, or other in
toxlcating malt or vinous liquor for
beverage purposes, except for ex-
port.
ITO import distilled, malt, vinous,
or other Intoxicating liquors tex
cept shipments already then en-
route)."
Never before did big issue permit
ting so widely divergent partisan views
produce such a wealth Of optimism as
was exhibited on all sides yesterday.
Those who felt that wartime prohibi-
ton was not necessary and was an in
fringement of personal liberties saw
ample opportunity for evadng it..
Those who agreed with it's provisions
and the motives that prompted its
passage announced their intention Of
complying with 1t.
Representatives of the Anti Saloon
League readily agreed that whatever
the liquor interests did would be wrong
and that the results would be bene-
hcial TO prohibition.
Anderson Has His Say
An evidence Of this cheerful outlook
Of the dry leaders was found in a
statement issued by William H. Ander-
son, State Superintendent of the Anti
Saloon League, in which he sad
The Anti-Saloon League is not wor-
RED over the situation, because no mat
Ter what happens it viii help the pro-
hibition movement. II the war prohibi-
,i>n law is generally observed the
dement's will be 30 apparent that the
"nole country will be reconciled to ma
tional prohibition before the amend
rent goes into effect. If the President
abTogates the war prohibition law it
VIII help Impress upon the moral ele-
ment goes into effect.
We shall assume that the officials
intend to discharge their duties and
van not undertake anything Of dras-
,ic character. The ADti-Saioon League
ooes NOT intend to do anything now
tha1 VIII turn sympathy toward the
"ess and away from the prohibition
cause. :.
While the Ani-saloon League has
5000 Tor ane war prohibition act after
al mat has been mere incident. The
greatest value we have gotten from
the var prohibition proposition il the
dfrecs impetus that the attitude and
Tactics ~ tn IS>,x.-