Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1919 — WETS HOPE FOR DECREE TO END MOBILIZATION. [ARTICLE]

WETS HOPE FOR DECREE TO END MOBILIZATION.

Washington, Dec. 16.—Action by President Wilson to proclaim demobilization completed and the war at an end is now the chief hope of the “wets.” It is understood the president is having a special study made of the law in view of the supreme court’s decision to determine whether the power to take such action is vested in him. In the meantime William Duehne, representing the retail liquor dealers of New Jersey, has asked the supreme court for permission to test the validity of the ratification of the eighteenth As a preliminary step, application has been made for an injunction against enforcement of the Volstead law in New Jersey after constitutional prohibition becomes effective. Similar action is expected in Rhode Island and other states. Hope of congressional action on behalf of the liquor interests was dispelled today when the house committee on agriculture voted, 16 to 3, against repealing the war-time prohibition law. The proclamation fixing January 16, 1920, as the date of the beginning of constitutional prohibition is also to be attacked in the supreme court on the ground of Ohio’s withdrawal of ratification. It is to be contended that in the event of a new proclamation being issued the liquor interests .will be entitled to a time allowance of one year for the disposal of their stocks. The court will also be asked to rule that ratifying states may at any time override the action of their legislatures by referendum.