Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-06-24
Booze
Likely In
Move To Tighten Re
strictions In Volstead
Law Expected to Pre-
cipitate Fight
By W. H. Atkins

by w. n. atkins
Washington, June ga fight
between the "wets" and "drys, =
begun through moves to amend
and make more rigid the provi-
sions Of the Volstead law, threat
ems now to involve both sides Of
the Capitol in a whiskey row.
The run battle has many. an
giles. The biggest fight develops
out OF Congressman yolstead's
drive to tighten the screws" on
whiskey as a medical agent and
to outlaw beer.
Other phases of the whiskey
embroglio, grew out OF vigorous
moves by certain ''wet" leaders
to obtain liberal" amendments
to the dry law. One Of these,
fathered by Congressman Ed
munds. of Pennsylvania, would
allow American ships to carry
liquors aboard Mr.. Edmunds'
proposal invites strong support
from Senators and Congressman.
Shipping interests urge its pas
sage on the ground that Ameri-
can ships are suffering eompeti-
tion with foreign liners. Pas
sengers are taking passage on
foreign owned boats, because
liquors are sold and served on
them.
Verbal pyrotechnics will come
soon In debates over beer. The
Treasury is holding up regula-
tions which would autnvrize
manufacture and sale Of medicin-
al beer.
Protests Pile I'm.
Congressman Volstead claims
Congress, by an overwhelming
majority, will declare bar it. Vol
stead's fight is the result of an
opinion by former Attorney-~sn-
eral Palmer, holding beer sales
by druggists to be legal.
Breweries, drug manufacturers
and leading anti-prohibition or
ganizations have entered strong
protest against the Volstead
measure. The protests against
the Edmunds' ship measure are
less numerous, although 1t is
strongly opposed by the Anti
Saloon League.
Few will deny that In Con-
Eress there now exists greater
support for lieat wines and beer.
The real mystery is whether or
not new accsssions to the beer
and wine standard will vote as
they drink. In all wet and dry
contests at the Capitol the votes
on liquor questions have shown,
Invariably, a. large percentage OF
"wets" lining up with dry adj
yocates, upon measures to clamp
down the lid tighter ,u~s tne
rum traffic.
8 Gallons Wine for Sick
The ''wets" in the lew skir-
mishes may be somewhat appeas-
ed by the fact that the new
volssead bill leaves wine as
medicinal drink, which may be
prescribed, along with whiskey
and other "spirituous" liquors.
II is probable. however. that
when the finishing touches are
nut on the bill. before 1t comes
to the President for his sigma
ture 1t will contain many res
trictions, limiting the freedom OF
doctors in prescribing wine for
patients.
Prohibition Commissioner Kra-
mer has suggested that 1t should
be permissible for physicians to
prescribe wine in amounts equi-
yalent in alcoholic content to
whiskey allowed. Kramer fig
ured that as patients are per-
mitted to have three pints of H
whiskey a month. just proper
ion Of wine would be three gall
.ons a month. gauged by its
smaller content of alcohol.
The "drys" are aligned for a
terrific attempt to jam their
amendments through, and they
'reely predict they have enough
rotes to win. But the winning
will come probably only after
ome spicy talkfests in both
with mixture OF
always to be expected
n liquor debates.