Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-12
WILSON INFLUENCE
FOR VETS IS SEEN
INNEXT CONVENTION
Believes Democrats Should
Take Firm Stand Against
"Bone-Dy" Plank in G, 0,
P, Platform in 1924
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
Heased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(COnVricbt 1929

Neased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, June 9.-In the
wet and dry fight which is certain
to be waged at the next Democratic
national convention, the influence OF
Woodrow Wilson will he with the
wet, or at any event. the damp"
section of the party. The former
president, it is said, does not believe
that his party should hesitate to
take a bold stand against the bone-
dryness promised in the next Re-
publican platform if President Har-
ding is to be the nominee.
1t develops that Mr., Wilson's
stand on the wet and dry issue was
thoroughly discussed at the re-
cent meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Democratic national
committee in this city. 1t was re-
called that Mr.. Wilson had indicated
the outline of light wine and beer
plank for the platform in 1920. Will
liam Jennings Bryan, leading the
opposition for days in the resolu-
lions committee, succeeding in de-
feeating an outsToken declaration
for beverages of the lighter alco-
holic content
And while a great storm has been
raging about the head of Governor
Al Smith, of New York, for his APP.
proval of bill repeating the state
Mr.. Wilson in the fall of 1919 did
not hesitate to veto the Volstead
act as it was submitted to him for
signature. 1t is true the veto
didn't amount to much and generally
has been forgotten by the American
public because the house Of repre-
sentatives passed the bill over the
veto in less than three hours after
the message conveying the execu-
tive disapproval was read in the
congress. The senate was some
what more deliberate, but, it, too.
soon passed the bill over Mr.. Will
sons veto, many members of the
presidents own party voting to
override his action.
Veto Interesting
Mr.. Wilson's veto message was
brief but Interesting. It was dictated
from his sick bed. for he had been
stricken about a month before while
completing his western tour in favor
of the League of Nations Mr.. Will
son based his action upon the fact
that the VoIstead bill sought to give
force and effect both to wartime
and to constitutional prohibition in
the same measure. Mr.. Wilson felt
there was no need for wartime pro-
hibition inasmuch as the army and
navy had been demobilized.
But he also intimated to congress
that In attempting to regulate the
personal habits of the people it
should move slowly. Congress at
the moment, however, was in ndi
mood to move slowly. The prohibi-k
ton wave had reached it's crest and
the Volstead act was flung back at
Mr.. Wilson without change even
in the dotting of an 'i'' or the
crossing. of ct" Congress did not
give Mr.. Wilson the opportunity h0
desired to pass upon constitutional
prohibition separated from the war
time act.
Inasmuch as Mr.. Wilson's Vel
stead veto will be made the basis of
a general attack by the Republican,
upon the wet tendencies and record
of the Democratic party, it is set
forth here in it's entirety.
Radical Drys' Charges
1t was charged by the prohibi-
ton forces at the time of the veto
that Mr.. Wilson waited to hold up
enforcement of wartime prohibition
so that many millions of dollars
worth of bonded liquors could be
released from the government ware
houses. The wartime act prevented
all such Withdrawals. This, it was
claimed, amounted to a confiscation
of property. There had been no
rush to get The liquor out because
it was felt that the war prohibitory
act would be nullified by presidential
proclamation before constitutional
prohibition should take effect and
that the interval between would give
DIOuIy OIL 1IlIC W llIC OWAS1o VI InC
stored liquor to remove it.
President Wilson, the day follow.
ing the Passage Of the Volstead ACT
over his veto, announced that he
would nullify the wartime law by
proclamation the moment the Ger
man peace treaty was ratified in
the, senate. 1t had been thought
that he might have TO wait until a
treaty with Austria also was rati-
fed, but the president held other
wise.
Naturally Mr.. Wilson's plans went
for naught. His optimism was mis-
placed. The treaty of Versailles
never was ratified, and peace with
Germany was not officially estAb-
Iished until President Harding me-
gotiated separate treaty with the
central powers. By that time con-
prohibition had becomo
the law Of the land, and the bonded
liquors remained in the government
tt. r CT. NL..I.