Americus times-recorder., 1920-01-16
NATION GOES DRY.
FROM NOW ON
AS MIDNICHTTAPS
Constitutional ! Prohibi-
ton Effective, Ending
Hopes Of Vets

AAiANN L YIN, Jan. 1O.-COnSIl-
tutional prohibition becomes effective
at midnight tonight
From 1901 a. m., the "manufac-
ture, sale or transportation of intoxi
eating liquors within, the importation
thereof into, or the expectation there
of from the United States and all ter
rltory subject to the jurisdiction
thereof for beverage purposes" is
prohibited by the 18th amendment to
the Constitution, and the United
States becomes the first nation of the
world to make such a provision part
of its basic law. Congress has defin-
ed an intoxicating liquor as any bev-
erage containing one-half of one per
cent, or more, of alcohol.
Actually, the advent of constitu-
, tional prohibition will make little diff
ference in the daily life of the peo-
pie OF this country, as they have been
living under the nationwide war
time ban on alcoholic drinks since
last July. There have been eager
hopes entertained by the thirsty by
dlstillers and by spectators holding
large quantities of whisky for higher
prices, that wartime prohibition
would be lifted before today in ac-
cordance with the recommendation of
President Wilson to Congress, but
Congress refused to do 50 and the arid
spell now about to begin under au-
thority of the nations Constitution,
which prohibitionists declare will
continue in effect for all time mas
much as it could be revoked only in
the same manner in which it came in
to existence, will permit no oppor-
tunity for replenishing of private
cellars or the unloading of investment
stocks. There is one case pending
in the Supreme Court, however, at
tacking the constitutional prohibition,
that by the state of Rhode Island
Thousand of Gallons Held.
Thousands of gallons of whisky re-
main in bonded warehouses with no
chance to be sold at prevailing high
prices The liquor can be taken out
only for medicinal and scientific uses
with the Bureau of Internal Revenue
, exerting extreme precautions to see
that none of it is used in violation
of the law. During the last two
months, many owners of alcoholic IL
quors, foreseeing no opportunity for
sale in this country, have endeavored
to rush the surplus to other countries
Lack of shipping space prevented
more than a fraction being exported.
| Cuba and the Bahamas have received
most of what was sent abroad. There
were 70,000,000 gallons on hand
when wartime prohibition went into
effect. The amount exported is not
known but is probably less than 20,-
= 100000 gallons.
Attacks on constitutional prohibi-
ton, began in several states, appar-
. entity are not viewed with alarm by
' the reform forces. After the Su-
preme Court upheld the constitution
ality of wartime prohibition and the
measures to enforce it, Wayne B.
Wheeler, general counsel Of the Anti
Saloon League of America, an
nounced that the only question left
on which the vets could make fight
was whether prohibition was proper
subject for constitutional action and
= whether the amendment had been le-
! gally adopted. He contended there
Y was no doubt on the subject. New
, JERSEY officials who searched state de-
, partment records of the amend
ment, announced they had found no
variations in language which would
warrant attacking it.
Up To Revenue Bureau.
Enforcement of constitutional pro-
hibition was lodged by Congress with
the Bureau of Internal Revenue,
which for years has been in close
touch with distilling and brewing in
terests in the collection of excise
taxes and active in running down
"moonshiners. Evidence collected
by the bureau will be used in prosecu-
ton by the Department of Justice
Commissioner Roper has establish
, ed an entirely separate division IN the
Bureau of Internal Revenue for the
enforcement of prohibition, headed
by John F. Kramer, of Mansfield,
Ohio. He will have under him nine
federal supervisors in charge Of as
many districts, director in each
state and a mobile force which can
(Contipuad on mage Al