Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1919 — LAST HOPE OF WETS IS GONE [ARTICLE]

LAST HOPE OF WETS IS GONE

SENATE CLINCHED PROHIBITION enforcement act OVER WILSON VETO. passed the prohibition enforcement- i act over the president’s veto today and made immediately effective machinery for preventing the sale of beverages containing more than onehalf of one per cent alcohol. The vote was 65 to 29, or more than the necessary two-thirds majority. While there was a wrangle over taking up the measure in place of the peace treaty, which had the right of way, there never was doubt as to how the senate stood. It was overwhelmingly “dry ” like the house, which repassed the bill within three hours after the president had vetoed it. . Before congress, at 3:40 o clock, finally clinched enactment of the enforcement law, despite presidential objection to linking war time and constitutional prohibition acts, there came from the white house the announcement that the war time ] aw _which was put into effect after the cessation of hostilities —would be annulled the moment the senate formally the German peace treaty. , _ .. . .. It was the most definite of au official or semi-official statements bearing on the war time act. Prohibition leaders were plainly disturbed by the news, for they had couhted firmly upon the country reaching the effective date of constitutional prohibition, January io, 1920, without re-opening saloons. Despite the clamor set up by tne wet and dry forces over the white house pronouncement, senate leaders said they would proceed with consideration of the treaty as heretofore. Senators who h *Y®.J ake “ * active part in the prohibition campaign branded as unfair and absurd reports that they would delay the treaty simply to keep the bqupr traffic from gening a foothold in the comparatively short period re maining before the country will go dry for good. Formal denial was issued the headquarters of the an^ a league that its officers would take part in any movement delay the treaty. League officers - stuck to the opinion that it would be necessary first to ratify the Austrian treaty before lifting the war time prohibition ban, which was Mid to have been the ruling of attorney General Palmer, and they declareu their position was not altered by the fact that President Wilson was prepared to cut through legal doubt and wipe out a law, tie necessity for which he believes tn have passed.