Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-02
BY MAIN GRUTE
,ciai CORRESPONDENT of Great Falls Tribune
nvrirht 1000 hY. The fireaI Ealls Tribune

Special Correspondent of Great Falls Tribune
Copyright. 1922. by The greet FANS Tribune
Cincinnati, O..-The decision of
the state supreme court, under which
at the November election the voters
of Ohio will be the first Americans to
pass directly upon the question OF
mild beer and light wine, has given
zest TO a political campaign which
with only p%erfunctory contests for
offices in prospect had begun to Ian
quish before it even got under way.
The approaching referendum on
whether the state constitution. not
withstanding the federal limitation of
one-half of one per cent, shall be
amended TO recognize as intoxicating
wine and beer only when its alcoholic
content exceeds 2.75 per cent. and fur
Their TO protect citizens from search
and seizure without legal warrant is
the talk of the state.
Case Widely Discussed.
The merits of the case are begin
ming to be discussed wherever men
and women meet, in the business
houses, clubs and tea rooms of the
cities. and around the cracker barrels
in the crossroads stores. Already
the proposed modification of prohibit
LlDu ms dLLTdtltu hioI AASAA
the voters than did the 18th amend
ment to the federal constitution when
it was presented to the legislature for
ratification or rejection, and poiiti-
clans are predicting that before the
last speech has been made on the
vital question and the final campaign
skyrocket shot into the air, the issue
will have attained such prominence
that the races for office will attract
public attention only insofar as the
candidates are affected by the way
they line up on the question OF wine
and beer.
With the referendum made n GER
tainty by the action of the courts on
Thursday. both vets and drys are pre-
pairing for > a struggle which will en-
gulf all other considerations before the
voters and determine whether Ohio of
all the states in the union shall be the
first to repudiate or indorse the spirit
of drastic Interpretation and enforce
ment of the national prohibition law.
1t is conceded on all sides. even by the
vets, that the drys, due to the inten-
sive objection of the Anti-Saloon
league. will have the advantage OF ap-
pealing Il the electors, at the start at
any rate. That the leaders of the
vets are awake TO tue sIludtlOu Is
evident from the preparations made
by the Association Against the Pro-
hibition Amendment the organization
through whose efforts the monster pc
tition. containing 100000 names, was
prepared which resulted in the refer
endum proposal being placed upon the
ballot.
To Extend Campaign.
The day after the decision of the
Ohio supreme court ordering the refer
endum. a leader of the association. c.
c. Hinkley, left Washington TO assume
active charge of the campaign for the
amendment and also to tour Indiana
and Michigan to organize for a similar
campaign in those states
The supreme court decision was a
defeat which the Anti-Saloon league
felt keenly, and which was all the
more poignant because so unexpected.
Contrary to expectation, Harvey c.
Smith. secretary of state of Ohio. who
had long been under the ban of the
Anti Saloon league as being too len
lent toward the vets, refused TO au-
thorize the referendum when the petit