Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-17
Down Goes the Lid!
Continued from PAGE One)

tunity for sale in this country, have
endeavored to rush the surplus to
other countries. Lack of shipping
space prevented more than a frac-
ton being exported. Cuba and the
Bahamas have received most OF what
was sent abroad. There were co.
100000 gallons on hand when war
time prohibition went into effect
The amount exported is not known
but is probably less than 10000, 600
gallons.
ton. began in several states. appar-
emily are not viewed with alarm by
the reform forces. After the Su-
preme Court upheld the constitution
atty 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 q
fight was whether prohibition was a
proper subject for constitutional &C
ton and whether the amendment
had been adopted legally. He con-
tended there was no doubt on the
subject. New Jersey officials, who
searched State Department records
Of the ratification of the amendment,
announced they had found no varia-
tons in language which would war;
rant attacking it.
Enforcement of constitutional pro-
hibition was lodged by Congress with
I,1 80 I~x@
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 prose-
cutions by the Department of JUS
tice.
Commissioner Roper has estab-
lished an entirely separate division
in the Bureau Of Internal Revenue
for the enforcement of prohibition,
headed by John F. Kramer Of Mans
field. Ohio. as prohibition commits
sioner for the United States. He
will have under him nine federal
supervisors in charge of as many
districts. a director in each state and
a mobile force which can be shifted
from place to place as conditions de-
mand
Mr. Roper has made plain, how
ever, that enforcement Of prohibition
and has appealed to citizens of the
United States to give their co-opera-
ton to UNFOLDING the law of the coun-
try. Federal forces, he said, would
be used to reinforce local efforts, and
where any state officer failed in his
duty, his constituents would be in
formed.
Approximately $500. 100000 in taxes
has been collected annually on alco-
holic beverages, which now will have
to be obtained by the government IL
some other way.
Prohibition sentiment. eliminating
in the epoch-making amendment to
the constitution. has been growing
steadily in this country since 1908,
according to records compiled by the
board OF temperance Of the Methodist
Episcopal church. At that time,
demand for moderation in the use OF
ardent spirits arose, followed ten
years later by an even broader move
ment for abstinence from ardent
spirits and for moderation in the use
Of malt liquors. This in turn gave
way. in 1910. to sentiment for abstin-
ence from all alcoholic beverages.
Agitation for abolition OF the prac-
tice Of licensing the sale Of liquors
did not come until 1S47. resulting four
years later in the enactment of prohi-
bition laws in. Maine, the first state
to put prohibition into effect. Kan