The Washington times., 1921-01-01
AND WINE
HOPE REVIVED
Advocates Feel Harding Would
Not Oppose Relaxation If
U. S. Favored Il.
BY JACK ROYLE,
Information News Service.

MARION, Ohio, Jan. 1.-Those
who climb aboard the water wagon
today may find it impossible to fall
off after March 4. Republican lead
ers reiterated today the determina-
ton of the Harding Administration
to enforce the Eighteenth Amend
ment with the utmost vigor.
LIFTS RIGID BAN.
They were equally insistent in ex-
pressing the belief that should pub
lie resent rather than favor the es-
tablishment OF absolute alcoholic
drought. legislative measures might
be Instituted to relax the provisions
of the Nolstead act to permit manu-
facture and sale of beer and light
wines.
il Will be recalled that Vice Presi-
dent Marshall declared II his BELIEF
that the majority OF the members OF
Congress, in their individual capaci-
ties, did not favor the adoption of
prohibition but that they felt called
upon to follow the wishes of their
constituents.
should the opinions OF these con-
stituents change experience with
real prohibition, IL In the belief ex-
pressed here that regulations per-
mittins sale and use Of beer and light
wines would meet with small oppO-
sition either from the White House
or from the Capitol.
In support of their declaration of
the firm determination of Senator
Harding 10 make "bootlegger" an OBJ
I solete term in America, his close
! friends cite the following quotation
/, ir6m letter written by Senator
Harding to DR.. Daniel A. Polling, as
sc ciate president of the United So
cieties OF Christian Endeavor
OPPOSED TO TRAFFIC..
This is representative Govern
ment ruled by the majority as ex-
pressed at the polls or In the laws
| formulated by elected representatives.,
| and II is not within the rights OF any
office OF that Government to lightly
| set aside the will of the people as
so expressed, but ] may say that l
am opposed to the establishment OF
the traffic in intoxicating liquors and
will use whatever influence or power
| possess to prevent such restablish-
ment."
| These friends point out also that
| considerable latitude may be given
| to the phrase Intoxicating liquors
| Tho question OF what is whiskey, oc'
| cupied the attention of the supreme
court for years and the uuets,on OF
what beverages are intoxicating IS
determined by the Folstend act.
Amendment of that act, 1t Is said
might readily make possible the use
| of light wines and beers.
| When questioned during the cam
paign as to whether he would favor
or oppose modification Of the Folste ad
act to permit the sale of beer and
light wine Senator Harding sent the
following telegram to IL B. Carre,
of the Anti-Saloon League If America
my recorded votes for the submis-
sion of the Eighteenth amendment
and the law to enforce 1t answer your
telegram. 1 stand by that record
made in the public service"
Whatever effect on prohibition pub
lie opinion may dictate later, there is
no doubt expressed here as to the Alb
solute determination to enforce the
present law by every means within
the power Of the Federal Government
1t is understood that Cabinet officers
and officials in charge of dry law en-
Iforcement stress the necessity for abb
solute coordination and agreement
between the Department Of Justice
and the Treasury and prohibition Of
ficials.
QUIET NEW YEARS.
Senator Harding spent a quiet New
Year eve at home, tired with a weel
filled with appointme He ISSUED
no New Year message and did moi
even wait up to sec the new yeaI
in. He passed today at his desk IL
an effort to catch up with belatet
correspondence. receiving but few
| VI