San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-24

The only liquor which can be
legally possessed today Is that when
was made prior TO January, l920
ANY person who has repleniShed ms
stock since then is guilty OF Ylo-
lation of the Volstead Act. Have
members of Congress and officials OF
the government had any liquors IN
their possession which were manu-
featured since the amendment was
adopted?
Persons engaging in Illicit sale OF
liduor have their bottles labelled with
date Of pre-NolSteadian days. Even
old issues of internal revenue stamps
are reproduced TO make bottles look
genuine. There's no way of telling
whether the liquor in anyone's posses
sion is old or new except by tracing
il 10 the person who made the sale.
Boast Of Giving StimuIants.
Read the debates in Congress and
yoI will every now and then note
that a "wet" member boasts Of hay
ing supplied some of the dry-voting
membership with stimulant. Some
members of Congress have always
kept a supply of LIQUOR handy in
case any of their callers felt distress
ed and needed first aid. The theory
of these members has been that their
own private offices were no different
from their dwellings and that it was
no violation of the VOlstead law
actually 10 drink an intoxicating
liquor
Perhaps the most perplexing phase
of the situation on Capitol Hill is
that of the members who vote dry"
but who drink intoxicants whenever
they get a chance. Some of these
men dcplOre their own lack of self
control and every now and then ex-
press the wish that it be rendered
impossible for them to get liquor
They believe in the theory Of en-
forcemcnt but like many persons out
side of official life they cannot easily
repress habits of a lifetime.
Members Of Congress are immune
from arrest and presumably their
Offices will never be raided. The
Anti-SalOon League has diScreetly re-
Trained from urging any such search.
The prohibition vote in Congress
might be imperiled il any attempt
was made TO bear down heavily on
those members who vote dry but con-
tinue their use OF alcoholic beverages.
This group is not numerically large
but its support is nevertheless val
liable.
Harding Against Violations.
As for the prohibition officers of
the executive branch of the govern
ment, they have no jurisdiction over
the members of Congress, in fact they
are embarrassed by the fact that
other officers of the government are
not obeying the Volstead Act.
President Harding has endeavored
TO correct this situation by his ex-
hortations TO officials to set an px-
ample to the rest of the nation. The
knowledge that the President off
Cially frownS upon violations of the
Nolstead Act by officers Of the gov
eminent is beginning to pcrcolate
through and will have an important
effect on the situation before long.
Indeed, things are far different to.
day from what they were two years
ago. There is less drinking in pub.
Tic places or at semi-Official functions
by officials Of the government. What
may be consumed clandestinely is
another thing but no longer are Off
Gals to be seen imbibing with the
freedom of year or even few
months ago.
An important influence on the locaI
situation has been the disclosure OF
fake liquor. So much poisoned stuff
has been seized that many who Dc
not like the Nolstead Act are begin
ming TO obey it through fear of tn,
"bootlegger's" wares.
No intoxicating beverages Of any