New-York tribune., 1920-03-12
Sweet Against
Legislation for
Light Drinks
Opposition Ends Him Polit-
ically, Says Author of Bill
Backed by ex Service
Delegation in Assembly
Measure Gaining Friends
Roosevelt Among the Few
Veterans Who Do Not
Support Cillett's Plan
From a ston Correspondent

T'oW q St0U correspondent
ALBANY, March 11.-Speaker Sweet
announced to-day that he was opposed
to the Legislature passing any light
wine and beer bill.
When this latest position of the
Speaker in the "wet" and "dry" fight,
which is now looming large here, became
known to Colonel Ransom H. Gillett,
Assembly, he declared that it meant the
end of Mr.. Sweet politically.
Colonel Gillett, who introduced the
light wine and beer bill, which is pat
termed on the regulations governing the
sale of intoxicating beverages adopted
by the American Expeditionary Forces,
said that regardless of the opposition
OF the Speaker he would have q show
down. on the legislation "within a very
few days.
In his stand he is supported almost
unanimously by the thirty-fivc ex-serv-
ice men who are in the Assembly. These
veterans of the war will confer in the
Assembly parlor on Tuesday, and plans
for putting through liberal interpreted
ton OF the Eighteenth Amendment will
be considered.
Only two or. three of the thrty-five
are opposed to Colonel Gillett's program.
One of these is Lieutenant Colonel Theo-
dore Roosevelt. His opposition is two
fold. He believes that for the >ex service
men to act as unit would be bringing
the American Legion into politics, and
that the Gillett measure would usurp the
powers of the Federal government in the
enforcement of prohibition.
Whether Colonel Roosevelt will take
a prominent part in the fight against
hn III l.
He was opposed for election last year by
the Anti-Saoon League. When the
Cuvillier resolution was adopted by the
Assembly providing for an investigation
of the league Colonel Roosevelt voted
"no."
II believe prohibition should be CIV
en- a fair chance" said Speaker Sweet
to-day. "Until the courts have con.
strued the Eighteenth Amednment and
the Volstead act they remain the law
of the land"
Does that mean there will be no
bill passed at this session providing
for light wines and beer?" the Speaker
was asked.
"Of course, 1 can't say what the
House is going to do," Mr. Sweet said.
Pm not prepared to say what legisla-
ton | will favor until after the hearing
next Tuesday on all prohibition meas
ures."
When Mr.. Sweet announced that he
was against light wines and beers AS
semblyman Hartwcll w. Booth, of
Oneida County, who was in the Speak
ers room, interrupted to say:
And, Mr.. Speaker, upstate is with
you" ''
When Colonel Gillett, who comes
from upstate, was told of the Speakers
attitude he remarked:
IF Speaker Sweet takes any such
stand it means his end politically. If
we were to accept that position we
might as we'll adjourn the Legislat ature
and let Congress pass our laws"
= Colonei Glllett was told that Speaker
Sweet said he was opposed to the light
wlne and beer bill because it ran coun-
ter to the Eighteenth Amendment and
the Volstead act. He replied:
= my bill is not in violation of the
Federal amendment, which gives the
states the right to interpret their own
laws on prohibition under the concur
rent Jurisdiction clause"