Evening star., 1923-06-02

COntlnued from F1rSt PdSe.D
the vets, perhaps their greatest vic
tory since prohibition.
What the government will do about
it remained to be determined at a
hibition Commissioner Haynes, In
ternal Revenue Commissioner Blair
and Secretary of the Treasury Mellon,
perhaps with President Harding him
self. But in the meantime, il was un-
officially suspected that even with the
governors promises to Cooperate
with federal agents the vets, in New
York. positively jubilant. would go to
eXtravagant lengths in their violation
of the Volstead act.
Saloons BACK. Is said.
Informal reports reaching Wash
ington today indicated that the open
saloon" already had been established
in certain sections Of New York. and
with the repeal of the state enforce
ment code these would be thrown
open in still more fragrant violation
Of the national act.
In fact, even II not by implication
from the governors statement, it was
admitted in dry circles here today
that New York was headed indirectly
for the open saloon" Whether it can
be successfully established is still a
question in view of the governors
statement that the repeal will not
the imagination bring back into ex-
lstence the saloon, which is, and
ought to be. a defunct institution in
this country"
Two possible lines of procedure
seemed today to open to the prohibi-
tion unit. Either il can continue with
the present force in New York state,
which has been praised by Commits
sfoner Haynes as the finest outfit"
In the unit, although considered by
vets as largely full OF leopholes. per-
mitting much liquor in New York. Or
the prohibition unit can concentrate
forces from elsewhere, to weaken the
ory machine materially in some spots
OF the country. in order to tighten up
on New York.
No New Dry Agents.
The prohibition machine as a whole
to be running at the maximum of its
appr opriation. so that there is no ad-
ditional appropriation available to
put new men in New York.
Even more serious. however, than
the prohibition question, according to
some close students OF the situation
is the sensitive issue of states rights
The governors act was regarded
by some as throwing the wet and
dry issue headlong into the demo-
Of splitting the entire campaign for
president on sheer wet and dry
issue.
Wheeler's Statement.
Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel
for the Anti-Saloon League, in
statement declared that the only class
to be benefited by the repeal is the
bootlegger and Illicit dealer. His
statement follows:
The governors signature to the
repeal bill brings into the open the
plans of the anti-prohibitionists TO
nullify the eighteenth amendment by
repeating both state and federal
codes essential for it's enforcement
The insincerity of the vets claim
that they are asking only for nom
intoxicating beer is proven by the
repeal of the entire enforcement law
in the first state which they tempo
rarily control.
The only class to be benefited by the
repeal is the bootlegger and illicit dealer.
Every act heretofore illegal in New
York will continue to be SO under the
federal law. The state simply with
draws its aid in fighting outlaws.
This is indefensible. and should be
condemned by all law-abidtng citi-
zens in the nation.
This temporary reputation of her
obligation to support the United
States Constitution will. in my judg-
ment, be taken care of by the voters
of the Empire state themselves. The
state administration responsible for
the impending chaos and lawlessness
will have to answer to an outraged
public sentiment which believes in
the Constitution of the United States
and law and order"