The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-16
THE EIGHTEENTH
AMENDMENT
B0nedry Lid Already on the Country
Will be Nailed Down at
Midnight
(Associated Press)


Washington, Jan. 16-Constitution-
al 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 prohibit
ed by the 18th amendment to the con-
stituion, and the United States be-
comes the first nation of the world to
make such a provision part of it's
basic law. Congress has defined an
intoxicating liquor as any beverage
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 people
of this country, as they have been liv-
ing under the nationwide wartime
ban an alcoholic drinks since last
July. There have been eager hopes
entertained by the thirsty, by distil-
lers and by spectators holding large
quantities of whisky for higher
p1icess that wartime prohibition
would be lifted before today. in ac-
coTdance with the recommendation of
President Wilson to Congress, but
= Congress refused to do so and the arid
spell now about to begin under au-
thority of the nations constitution,
which prohibitionists declare will con-
ti,ue in effect for all time inasmuch
as it could be revoked only in the
same manner in which it came into
existence, will permit no opportunity
for the replenishment of private cell
lars or the unloading of investment
stocks. There is case pending
in the supreme court, however, at
tacking constitutional prohibition. 1t
is brought by the state of Rhode ISL
and
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 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 a fraction being exported. Cuba
and the Bahamas have received most
r La IL,
100000 gallons on hand when war,
time prohibition went into effect. The
amount exported is not known but is
probably less than 20,000.000 gallons
Attacks on constitutional prohibi
tion, began in several states, appar
ertly are not viewed with alarm by
the reform forces. After the supreme
court upheld the constitutionality o.
wartime prohibition and the meas
u1es to enforce it, Wayne B. Wheeler
general counsel of the Anti-Salool
League of America. announced tina
the only question left on which th'
vets could make a fight was whethel
prohibition was a proper subject fo1
constitutional action and whether th,
amendment had been adopted legally
He contended there was no doubt OF
the subject. New Jersey officials, VIII
searched state department records o
the ratification of the amendment, an
nounced they had found no variation
in language which would warrant at
tacking it.
Enforcement of constitutional pro
hibition was lodged by Congress wit
the bureau of internal revenue, whic
for years has been in close touch wit
distilling and brewing interests in tn
collection of excise taxes and activ
in running down "moonshiners." Evi
dence collected by the bureau will b
used in prosecutions by the depart
ment of justice.
Commissioner Roper has establish
ed an entirely separate division in tn
bureau of internal revenue for tn
enforcement of prohibition, headed b
John F. Kramer of Mansfield, Ohi'
as prohibition commissioner for tn
United States. He will have unde
him nine federal supervisors in chare
of as many districts, a director
each state and a mobile force whic
can be shifted from place to place 8
conditions demand.
Mr.. Roper has made plain. howeve
that enforcement of prohibition d.
rends largely on local sentiment ar
has appealed to citizens of the Unite
States to give their cooperation
UNFOLDING the law of the countr
Federal forces. he said. would be use
to reinforce local efforts, and whel
any state officer failed in his dut
his constituents would be informed.
Approximately $500,0O0, 900 in tax
has been collected annually on ale
holic beverages, which now will ha'