Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-04-01

NV
the prohibition department to make
the rules affecting prescriptions in
general more elastic, will in a short
time destroy the effect of the Volstead
act. Some have gone so far as to
predict that it will not be long until
beer and wine are dispensed by the
glass at soda fountains. The same
authorities also predict that while the
result will be a temporary succession
the liquor forces it will end In national
~reversion to prohibition Of a drastic
sort.
Several judicial decisions have re-
Gently been entered against search and
seizure of intoxicants in private homes
and temporary places of residence.
The Supremeacourt suit which attacks
the validity Of the prohibition amend
ment is based on the section which
makes it imperative unless ratified
within seven years. 1t is the conten-
tion that the section violates article 5
of the Constitution which gives con-
gress no power to impose a limit on
ratification "or to otherwise attempt
10 control what the legislatures of the
states shall do in their deliberations"
The provision attacked was offered by
former Senator Harding when the pro-
hibitioh amendment was being pro-
posed in the senate. He is quoted as
having stated at the time (Aug. /,
1910 that he offered the provision in
to speed action on the amend
Iment and place a limit on the time
states could keep it pending.
The American Legion is stirred up
over the conviction and sentencing to
terms in German jails of S~ergeants
Carl Neat and Fred thinner, members
Iof the American forces on the Rhine,
who attempted to apprehend Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll. convicted Ameri-
can Stacker. Neat was sentenced to
10 months Imprisonment and thinner
six. The national legislative commit
tee of the Legion has addressed a let
ter to the secretary Of war requesting
that the United States government
take steps to procure from Germany
the return Of Bergdoll to this country
and the release of the ~sergeants. The
letter is quite severe in its terms and
among other things states that 1.-THE
Bergdoll case as 1t now stands Is a
disgrace to the government and a cruel
and undeserved insult to the 100000
men who served America in the World
war"
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood has been
selected by President Harding for a
mission to the philippines which,
while not directly administrative.
nevertheless partakes in some respects
of the character of his important So
journ in Cuba Immediately after the
Spanish-American war. At that time
General Wood not only governed the
country, but made an investigation of
its principal problems and was large
Ily instrumental in establishing condi-
tons which made se~lf-government pos
sible. He Is scheduled to leave for
the Philippines April 5, accompanied
by w. Cameron Forbes, former COVER
NOR general of the islands, and several
military advisors. In appointing Gen
eral Wood, President Harding has
signified an intention to obtain a de-
tailed, unprejudiced report Of condi.
lions in order to execute the Jones act
providing that American sovereignty
shall be Withdrawn when a stable
government in which the natives are
largely participating shall have beer
established. 1t is significant of the
potential authority vested in General
that pending his Investigation
and report no governor general of the
islands will be appointed.
Red Russia Is now at peace with
most Of her neighbors and rapidly
concluding trade agreements. A strong
appeal has been made to PresidenI
Harding for a resumption of trade
with Russia. For the first time the
soviet government has officially dis
avowed any intention of interfering
in American internal affairs, thu.
backing down from the manifesto d
the Third Internationale which pro
posed to overthrow by force, If neoes
sary, the governments Of the United
States and other nations and substi
tute rule Of the proietariat. Opponentl
in America Of q resumption OF trad,
point to the assertion once made b,
LenIn that the soviet governmen
would not hesitate to repudiate prom
ises made to gain Immediate ends