Evening star., 1942-05-31
Sheppard Measure
Threatens 10 Revive
Prohibition Fight
Bill to Dry Up Army
And Navy Comps Seen
As Entering Wedge
By GOULD LINCOLN.

pdIu DlII W uiy uP Aiuiy diiu NAVY
camps. posts and yards, which has
increased by leaps and bounds in
recent weeks, threatens to bring
to the fore another contest between
the prohibitionists and those who
are opposed to prohibition, both in
Congress and out.
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi, who had planned to call
for a vote on the Sheppard bill in
the Senate tomorrow. has agreed
to postpone his motion so that a
meeting of proponents of the bill
may be held in the caucus room of
the Senate Office Building June %.
The entire day, he said yesterday,
would be given to hearing in public
meeting the arguments in support
of the measure. This will not be a
congressional committee meeting
although it is being arranged by
Senators and Representatives favor
ing the legislation. The Sheppard
bill has been on the Senate cal
endar for more than a year, re-
ported without recommendation by
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee.
Senator Bilbo. Senator Capper,
Republican, of Kansas, and others
who support the Sheppard bill, in
sisted that the measure was in no
way connected with a new drive
for national prohibition. The whole
purpose of the legislation, they said,
was to cure conditions of heavy
drinking said to exist in and around
Army camps and naval stations.
Other members of Congress, how
ever, took a different view. They
pointed out that national prohlbl-
ton received it's final and great i'm
petus during the World War, when
restrictions were placed first against
the sale of alcoholic beverages to
men in the armed forces, and when
Congress shut down on the use OF
grains for the manufacture of al
coholic beverages, on the ground
they were needed for food supplies
for the Allied Nations and the
OtllUSu oIdlCS. anu oAoO AOi SiAS
manufacture of munitions.
These opponents of the Sheppard
bill regard the adoption, if it comes,
of this legislation as an entering
wedge for further demands by pro-
hibitionists.
Contrary views were expressed re-
garding the probable action on the
bill, should it come to vote. Sem
ator Bilbo insisted the Senate would
pass the measure by a substantial
vote Others were not so sure.
Furthermore, the prediction was
made that if the bill actually was
taken up for consideration in the
Senate, an anti-lynching bill
amendment would be offered, which
would still further complicate the
situation. Senators from Southern
States, some of whom are backing
the Sheppard bill now, are hostile
to anti-lynching legislation, which
they regard as an invasion of States
rights.
The War Department. through
Secretary Stimson, has turned its
back fatty against the enactment
of the Sheppard bill. In a letter
written last year to Chairman
Reynolds of the Senate Military AT
fairs Committee, Mr.. Stimson said
the War Department was in entire
accord with the purposes of the leg
islation-the control over the use
of Intoxicating liquors by the mill
tary personnel. The department,
he said, does not believe temperance
can be attained by prohibition ap-
piled to the personnel of the Army
any more than it could be attained
by prohibition applied to the Nation
at large
Esisting Laws Cited.
Mr.. Stimson pointed out that ex-
listing laws already prohibit the sale
of Intoxicating liquors on military
reservations. The sale of light wine
and 80 per cent beer is permitted,
except in States where prohibition
exists by law.
The Sheppard bill, introduced in
February, 1941, just before his death
by Senator Sheppard of Texas, father
Of the national prohibition amend
ment which became effective in 1918
and was repealed after President
entered the White House,
not only prohibits the sale of alcohol
ic beverages on military reservations,
but also prohibits its possession on
such reservations. 1t authorizes
prohibition of the sale of these beve-
RACES in areas Immediately adjacent
to the military reservations. 1t
leaves to the discretion of the Sec
retary of War and Navy the duty of
fixing the limits of these areas.
One Senator suggested that un-
der the pending bill it would be
possible to prohibit the sale of
alcoholic beverages in any city
even New York or Washington
if an Army camp or post was close.
Opponents of the legislation said
that if it were adopted the sale of
bootleg liquor would Immediately
spring up about all Army and Navy
posts-just as bootlegging developed
during national prohibition.
A second part of the Sheppard
bill outlaws houses of prostitution
around military reservations. This
has been cared for, however, in a
measure, introduced in the
House by representative May, Dem
ocrat, of Kentucky, which was en-
acted last year.
Both sides are preparing for a
fight over the Sheppard bill. Sem
ators pointed to the greatly increased |
mail they have been receiving-hun-
dreds of letters and kilograms, urg-
ing the passage of the measure. A
list of persons to be inviteW to speak |
at the meeting June % is being pre-
pared by Capt. Edward CASTOR,
head of the Patriot Guard of Amer
lea, Inc, and will be submitted to
the informal congressional commit
tee in charge of the meeting. Among
those whose names have been sug-
gested are Henry Ford, Gen. John
j. Pershing, Col Theodore Roose-
welt, John D. Rockefeller, Roger w.
Babscn, Winthrop Aldrich, former
of the Navy; Josephus
Daniels, Surgeon General Thomas