Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-28
Acts Within Less Than Three
Hours After Wilson Notifies
Congress He Would Not Sign
Prohibition Measure.
VOTE is 22 ABOVE
REQUIRED TW0-THIRDS
Leaders in Senate Begin to
Lay Plans to Repass Bill
There-0ne Hope for "Wet
Spell" Over Christmas.

washington, OCt ".-EreSluent
Wilson Unexpectedly vetoed the
prohibition enforcement bill today
and within three hours the house
had repassed it over his veto by
vote of l76 to S.. The total vote
was barely more than a majority
of the entire membership.
Dry leaders in the senate imme-
diately began laying plans to repass
the bill there. They expect to ask
unanimous consent for its eonsid-
Grafton tomorrow, claiming enough
votes to put it through. They ex-
pect to act Oh it by Wednesday at
the latest.
The president refused to sign the
bill because it included the enforce
ment of wartime prohibition.
The objects of wartime prohibit
ton. the president said in his veto,
had been satisfied and Sound public
policy makes clear the reason and
necessity for its repeal"
Issues Easily ReparaBle.
1t would not be difficult, the
president held, for congress to deal
separately with the two issues.
The veto hit congress like a crack
Of lightning. The house, getting
on its feet again, deserted its lead
ers, who wanted to defer consid-
Grafton until Thursday SO as to
round up all the dry members. But
the drys swept into the chamber
and showed there was an over
whelming sentiment among them to
give the government ample wea-
pons for dealing with the liquor
traffic, now outlawed throughout
the land.
Nobody had really professed to
know that the president would veto
the bill. Republicans and democrats
alike-and the countless multitude
that had sorrowfully watched the
passing of the bars-thought it
would become a law without his
signature. Attorney General Palm
er. it was said, had declared it con-
stitutional.
But the president, propped up in
bed, dictated and then signed
veto message and sent it along to
congress without worrying, appar-
emily, about what congress might
do.
Prohibition leaders predicted to-
night that the refusal of the house
to accept the presidents veto meant
that the sale of liquor would not be
permitted again in the life of this
and many other generations.
One Hope Remains.
One hope remains for the talked
of "wet spell' before prohibition be-
comes effective before constitutional
amendment in January.
1t is that the German peace treaty
may be ratified and that the presi-
dent may declare peace and demobi-
l;zation of the army and navy. Some
legal experts contend that would
automatically annul the wartime
prohibition law.
But there is legal question in
volved as to whether the ratifica-.
ton of the treaty with Germany
alone will accomplish that end. The
wartime prohibition act was passed
| at time when the United States
was at war with both Germany and
Austria Hungary. Hostilities, how
ever, actually had ceased. Some
law officers here are inclined to be-
lieve that, it may not be ended until
both treaties are ratified.
On the other hand, friends Of the
dniniStration who profess to know
its plans say they expect to see the
wartime prohibition ban lifted by
presidential proclamation as soon as
the German treaty is ratified.
Cohorts Summoned.
Word that the enforcement act
had failed to meet presidential ap-
proval was flashed from the White
House few minutes before 4
O'Clock, an hour or more before il
was officially laid before the house,
Instantly wet and dry forces were
summoning their respective cohorts,
prepared for any break. But there
was no thought in the minds of the
leaders that immediate action was
contemplated.
Some of the dry leaders suggest
ed that it might be wise to repeal
the wartime act, as the president
suggested last spring. so far as it
related to light wines and beers,
mindful of the protest against sup
preston of these products. But II
this plan was discussed generally
in the cioakrooms it apparently did
not gain favor. for outside the mem-
bers were gathering for the fight.
House in Uproar.
The house was in an rproar when
the presidents message was read.