Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-03-11

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prohibition but because he sought to
defend the ancient American liberty
In the New York legislature bill
was introduced to legalize beverages
containing per cent alcohol, and u
resolution was adopted providing for
an investigation of the Anti-Saloon
league by the judiciary committee.
License was the issue in elections In
Massachusetts, and Vermont, and In
both states many towns that had been
dry for years voted wet.
On Thursday New Jersey came to
bat again with suit filed for the state
by its attorney general in the United
States Supreme court, attacking the
constitutionality Of the prohibition
amendment on the ground that it was
improperly drawn, that in q states
the legislatures have not ratified it as
provided for by their state constitu-
tions and that there is no power in
congress to propose 8 constitutional
kAAAShaAAC1t luS anu
morals Of the people.
Politics of course is entering into
the prohibition fight. The wet Demo-
Gratis Of Illinois already have launched
the presidential hoom sf Governor Ed
wards Of New Jersey and have. filed
the necessary petition that puts his
name on the April 8 direct primary
ballot. The real leaders of the party
in that state, however, say this move
ment will not amount to much and
that the delegates to San Francisco
probably will not be instructed.
The New York state Democratic con-
vention adopted resolutions condemn
ing prohibition by constitutional
amendment and calling for the restora-
tion Of states rights.
BY the close vote of 4 to 3 the
United States Supreme court has
given legal sanction to the United
States Steel corporation, the biggest OF
industrial combinations. The majority
opinion dismissed the governments
suit for dissolution of the corporation
without prejudice" so that the pro
ceedings can be Reconstructed il the con
cern does not behave In the future
The opinion was based on the two
main points that the size of a corpora
tion is not in itself a violation of thu
antitrust laws, and that the Steel cor
pOration has not exerted its admitted
great power to stihe competition, es
pecially since 1911, when the suit wa:
instituted No precedent was fount
in the tobacco and Standard Oil cases
but neither is it assured that thi
latest decision will furnish q preceden
for decision of the suits against th'
American Sugar Refining compan,
and other trusts that are pending ii
the Supreme court.
Transfer of the railroads back t,
private hands was accomplished
smoothly and so far nothing has hap
pened that would make the travelling
public aware of the change. Official
of some of the roads are hoping tha
the interstate commerce commission
will permit considerable increase il
freight rates to take care of the evi
dent needs Of the companies, so tina
it will not be necessary to ask for high
'er passenger rates. The governmen
guarantee holds good until Septembe
l., so there may be no boost in rate
for several months. The raflwa
brotherhoods wisely concluded to Civ
the new railway legislation fair tri,
before talking of strikes, though the
did not pretend that they liked it 8
all. President Wilson has asked TIL
rail executives and the brotherhoo
leaders to pick their representative
on board that will at once begi
work on pending wage disputes.
international interest is still eel
tered largely on Russia and on I'll
peace offers made by the soviet go
eminent. Sentiment in favor of cor
ing to an agreement with the Mosco
government seems to be growir
stronger and all the entente natior
have been given the tip that they mi
trade with the Russian cooperative
whose chief representative has S50t
100000 In gold to pay for the thin,
Russia most needs. The race for tn
trade is lively among the British ar
some of the continental nations, /
clnding Germany. The Representative
of Finland, Latvia and Roumania. al
perhaps of other countries, are in Wa
saw discussing peace conditions to
submitted to the soviet. Lenine, viii
apparently striving for information
peace, is not letting up on his domest
enemies and at latest reports had Gle