Evening star., 1923-01-07
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

/ ok 0s UOALD AANCOLNs
ITHE Anti-Saloon League. prohi-
| bition senators and other
"drys" scent light wines and
beer in the bill introduced a
day or two ago by Senator Spencer
Of Missouri. republican, providing
for the appointment of a commission
by the President to determine Just
what alcoholic content makes a bev-
erage intoxicating in the meaning Of
the eighteenth amendment to the
i Constitution.
The "drys" are up in arms imme-
diately. They insist that the pro-
posed commission and investigation
could only weaken the prohibition
| cause.
Opposed by BootIeggers.
Senator Spencer, on the other hand
takes the stand that his proposal Is
really a step in the direction OF real
enforcement OF prohibition. He holds
that the present Volstead prohibition
enforcement act is too apparently
drastic. with its declaration that no
beverage shall contain over one-half
OF per cent Of alcohol; that because
IL fnterferes to too great an extent
with the personal liberties Of the
people 1t is bringing law and order
into dtsrepute. Furthermore, he con-
tends that the bootleggers. who are
reaptng fortunes under the present
prohibition laws, are dead against
any modification, and that the "drys"
are really playing into the hands of
the bootleggers by opposing any
change.
Has Hard F1hht Ahead.
The Spencer resolution has been
referred to the judiciary committee
of the Senate. There, in the due
course, it probably will be referred
to subcommittee, and that subcom-
mittee. It is expected, will be headed
by Senator Sterling OF South Dakota,
republican, who was chairman of the
subcommittee which cared for the
so-called anti-beer bill, which passed
as an amendment to the Volstead
act and dashed the hopes OF many
that beer would be available. Sena-
tor Sterling has frankly announced
his opposition to the Spencer plan
TOR commission, and he will do ALI
In his power to prevent it's adoption
by the committee on judiciary and
by the Senate itself. The chances
arc, 1t is said, that it will not reach
the Senate, certainly not at the pres
ent session OF Congress.
The brewers. say the "drys" are
advancing the suggestion for the ap-
pointment of a commission by the
President to study and determine
what is really an intoxicating
beverage. And the drys are against
anything that the brewers are for.
Growing I'm Activity.
Proponents of light wines and beer.
however, are becoming more and more
active. They have formed an al
lance" not a league" But their
organization is stirring UP sentiment
in favor of permitting the sale OF
light wines and beer wherever 1t can.
1t has been holding votes" in many
cities, and it proposes TO hold one
here tomorrow.
Give us light wines and beer they
say, and levy sufficient tax on them.
and it will be possible to raise three
quarters of billion dollars, or even
billion dollars, from that source
of taxation every year. In twenty
years this tax would pay off the war
debt. They have faith in the thirst
Of the American people. Furthermore,
they insist that If the law we're
amended so as 10 permit the manu-
facture and sale of light wines and
beer-which they insist are not
propery Intoxicating beverages"-it
would put such a "crimp'A the boot
Logging business that the lawless
element now engaged in rum running
and selling would have to look for
something else to do.
Senator Spencer, the author of the
proposal that the President appoint
a commission of seven persons, two
at least of whom shall be women,
said last night that he would take
the matter up with members of the
committee on judiciary. 1t may be