The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-16
Local Authorities Are Elk
pected to Enforce
Laws.
WHERE THE us. COMES N
Fight for Prohibition Was
Long and Drama
tic.
tBy a Associated Prsssl

tBy Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Constitu-
tional prohibition becomes effective
at midnight tonight.
From 1901 a. M, the manufacture,
sale or transportation of intoxicating
liquors within, the importation there
of into, or the expectation thereof
from the United States and all terri
tory subject to the Jurisdiction there
of for beverage purposes" is prohibited
by the 18th amendment of the Consti-
tuition, and the United States becomes
the first nation OF the world to make
such provision part Of its basic law.
Congress has defined an intoxicating
liquor as any beverage containing one.
half of one per cent, or more, of al
cohol.
actually, the advent OF constitu-
tional prohibition will make little dif-
ference in the daily life Of the people
OF this country, as they have been liv-
ing under the nation wide wartime
ban on alcoholic drinks since last
July. There have been eager hopes
entertained by the thirsty, by distillers
and by spectators holding large guam
titles OF whiskey for higher prices,
that wartime prohibition would be
lifted before today in accordance with
the recommendation of President Will
son to Congress, but Congress refused
to do so and the arid spell now about
to begin under authority of the ma
tion's Constitution, which prohibi-
tionists declare win continue in, effect
for all time inasmuch as it could be
revoked only in the. same manner. in
In which 1t came into existance, win
permit no opportunity for the replen-
ishment of private cellars or the un-
loading of investment stocks. q
Thousands Of gallons of whiskey 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 1t is used in violation OF
the law. During the last two months,
many owners of alcoholic liquors,
foreseeing no opportunity for sale In
this country, have endeavored to rush
the surplus to other countries. Lack
OF shipping space prevented more than
q fraction being exported. Cuba and
the Bahamas have received most OF
what was sent abroad. There were
7O,0OO,000 gallons on hand when war
time prohibition went into effect. The
amount exported is not known but is
probably less than 100000 gallons.
Attacks on constitutional prohibi-
tion, began in several states, apparent
ly are not viewed with alarm by the
reform forces. After the Supreme
court upheld the constitutionality of
wartime prohibition and the meas
ures to enforce it, Wayne B. Wheeler,
general counsel of the Anti Saloon
league of America, announced that the
only question left on which the vets
could make fight was whether pro-
hibition was a proper subject for con-
stltutional action and whether the
amendment had been adopted legally.
He contended there was no doubt on
the subject. New Jersey officials, who
searched State department records of
the ratification of the amendment. an
nounced they had found no variations
IN language which would warrant at
tacking it.
Enforcement of constitutional pro-
hibttton was lodged by Congress with
the Bureau Of Internal Reveue, which
Tor years has been in close touch with
distilling and brewing interests in the
collection of excise taxes and active
in running down "moonshiners." Eyi-
dence collected by the Bureau will be
used in prosecutions by the Depart
ment of Justice.
Commissioner Roper has establish
ed an entirely separate division In the
Bureau of Internal Revenue for the
enforcement of prohibition, headed bv
John F. Kramer, of Mansfield. Ohio.
as prohibition commissioner for the
United States. He will have under
MIN nine federal supervisors in charge
OF as many districts, director in each
state and mobile force which can he
shifted from place to place as condi-
tions demand.
Mr.. Roper has made plain. however,
that enforcement of prohibition de-
pends largely on local sentiment and
has appealed to citizens of the United
States to give their cooperation IN
upholding the law OF the country. Fed
eral forces, he said, would be used to
reinforce local efforts, and where any
state officer failed in his duty, his
constituents would be informed.
Approximately s500,000.000 in taxes
has been collected annually on alco-
holfc beverages which will now have
to be obtained by the government In
some other way.
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