Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-15

Against Dry
Act Gaining
Activities Of the Association
Against Prohibition Amend.
ment Attracting Nation.
Wide Attention.
Wheeler Raps Movement
BY ARTHUR SEARS uRNNINc

by NNtHuN SEAkS HENNINC
Washington, May 1.-The nation.
~ drive Tor beer and light wine under
The direction oi the Association
against the Prohibition Amendmen,
= beginning 10 attract attention and
10 AROUSE the anxiety OF the Anti.
Saloon League.
The association j. fighting Tor the
domination and election OF repre-
sentailyes and senator's committed
10 an amendment OF the Nolsiead
ae, redehning Intoxicating beverages
10 such manner as 10 authorize the
manufacture oi beer OF 2.7S alco-
holic content and OF wine OF a some
what higher percentage.
The primaries held so FAR do not
indicate any widespread reaction
against the Volstead act. which de-
fines Intoxicating beverages as those
containing one-hali OF per cent oi
alcohol or more. A dry congress
man was defeated by former distl.
lcr m Peoria, H.. democratic can
dldaie Tor congress was nominated
on wet platform IN indianapolis.
aud in many other cities the voters
gave evidence OF desire for the le-
galiza,ion OF beer and light wines.
In the rural communities. however,
the bone drys appeared TO he as
strong as ever. II not stronger.
Wheeler Scores Platform.
Wayne Il. Wheeler. general coun-
sci for the Anti. Saloon league. paid
bis respects TO the platform adopted
at convention OF the opponents OF
prohibition in Maryland which in-
dorscd the object OF the Association
Against the Prohibition Amendment
and declared for light wines and beer.
This adopted platform clarifies the
issue and reveals the intention OF the
vets to subycrt the 18th amendment
said Mr.. Wheeler.
The Association Against the Pro-
hibiiion Amendment specifically ad-
Noca,es the repeal OF the national
prohibition act enacted TO enforce the
18th amendment. II they should sue
coed there would be no federal law
and no federal officers to enforce the
18th amendment. This is clearly
notification by repeating the laws
necessary to enforce. To cover this
indciensiblc program. this wet or
ganizat;on advocates leaving to every
state tn enforcement OF prohibition
through state laws alone.
States having prohibition codes
could enforce them just as they did
before national prohibition, but wet
states would remain and VIC
should be exactly where we were be-
fore the 18th amendment was adopt
ed. The wet states would be liquor
centers for the illegal distribution Of
intoxicating liquors throughout the
nation. Destruction of the legal
necessary for enforce
ment means notification just as Ell
fectively as organized, open resis-
tance to the law.
"Thc lowest alcoholic limit asked |
for in beer is 2.75 per cent. Congress /
defeated this scheme when the ma
tonal prohibition act was adopted.
Every state legislature has done so.
Thirty six states have adopted the
one-half of | per cent standard and
three the per cent standard.
Every state but Maryland has now
adopted law enforcement statute.
The other eight states have adopted
the one-half OF per cent standard
by reference to the federal law. Con-
gross cannot lcgalize 2.75 per cent
beer in the 80 states'in which it is
prohibited by state law. A United
States senator or congressman who
votes against the standard set by his
own state and maintained by legis-
lativc enactment or referendum vote
will have a hard time to explain his
position. /
I'VE accept the challenge laid
down at the Baltimore wet conven-
hon. The overwhelming majority OF
The people Of this country will stand
for law and order when they under
stand the merits Of the question. 1t
N as indefensible to champion an un-
law as it is for boot.
leupcr to violate the DrohibitiOn law"