American "Drys" Shocked

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1921, Page 1

American "Drys" Shocked

BEER AND WINE PERMITTED.

SAN FRANCISCO, On. 29.

Almost the whole ol the American nation is threatened with an epidemic of “sickness” without a parallel in tig, history ot the big Republic, in consequence of the new interpretation mi the present prohibition laws in the United States.

The new regulations, which have considerably surprised the temperance party of the country, are drawn in accordance with the law as interpreted by i the former Attorney-General Palmci, and permit the manufacture and prescription of beer and wine tin the sick. The regulations were signed and transmitted to Commissioner Blair lor promulgation. The regulations will make a ease of beer the unit for prescript inti •if that beverage, and Secretary Mel Urn, of the United States Treasury U.partment, said: “The issuance ot the beer regulations was displayed originally, because it seemed probable that legislation would be enacted u Inn do the action of the Department would be of no political advantage in those interested . and this view appeared to be acquiesced in by them, since there "as at that time no urgent demand lor the of the regulations. However, for some time past, it lias been strongly urged by those interested that this Department had no right lunger t" withhold the regulations, and that m so doing the Department was denying to those inteicstvd their dear, legal i i.• ht and thereby imposing serious loss upon them. The legal rights of the I>;iriios uiinconii'd hoinji pbin. tho partment is unable longer to relay the issuance uf these regulations.” The iegulnlioiis. Commissioner Lhur Piter said" limited the amount of beet which might be prescribed at one time t.,1 two and one-ball' gallons, but did not limit the number d prescriptions a phvxicinn miglil issue. Prescriptions for the use of wine for medicinal purposes, tho cunimissiomu said, were limited to two quarts at a time, but were also without limit «s i, nunilier. MUCH .1 UHI LATH>N.

'l'll,-re mns modi inhibition "here a .nl| fight Inis lie on waged e'er sin" 1 ’ prohibition went into lorn' m the Slates and newspapers rushed nut extras with Untiling headlines. Midi as. “U.S. Approves Sale of Beer, Wine, ami “Beer Permits in 30 Days. |„ San Erancisen, a eitv noted for its eoiivivialitv and hospitality to world editors Colonel John L. U.vnn, Col-h-clor ul Interna! Revenue. through whose office the new regulations ul the Treasury Dpartmeiit were promulgated, .aid ho anticipated by the new version ~1 ibe prohibition law, that the making ~| l.ccr and, wine and the filling of doetors’ prescriptions therefoie might begin in si ;l n Ernmisco within HO days, lie explained that it gemually occupied a month fur the routine distribution ol ~,-dois imm the Secr.-tary of the licastirv, to the ('oinmissioiior ot Internal Revenue, and then to the collectors. Officials d lire"dies all over the country, as well as direclms uf wineries, said they were prepared to meet, immediately such demands, as might Ik* I’lis lii< on»iiij4 :,s 11 insult () * l^K> im * el *

Mr 11. D. Stratton, general manager ~(■ the Rainer Brewing Company, which has a capacity of 225,00!) barrels annually, said bis company could begin at mice to supply the needs ol the people. lie said: “If the regulations are nut too drastic, and tin- physu mils "ill lie permitted to prescribe as much as a case a Week in aeeordance with the orders, the breweries should do a good business. We have an immense rapacity Imre, and cab put real beer nu the rna.ket immediately. Our plant is making a beer at present that eontams the usual percentage ul alcohol, but lhe beer is all do-tilenl.olised before it is put mi the maiket. to meet they qilitemrlits of the prohibition laws.” Theodore A. Hell, legal representative for the Vineyards I‘roduets Association of America and ant i-prsihibit ion inteicsts in Sail Era nci sro and ( alifot nia, believed the regnln I inns will sustain tliu requests repeatedly made by these interests. It was but natural that the ordei was welcomed enthusiastically by Ml pei sons interested in flic grape industry in California, and u "ill have j„i excellent effect mi the industry ol the California Grape Growers’ Exchange. RELEASES MUCH WINE.

Mr Sheehan said there "ere at present 15 (1(1(1.(Mill gallons of "ine in stm - j n i|,e State, besides I.I«MM tut) gallons made during the season just pass,.,l |!,. thought tins would about meet ,1m expev-led 'demands m ibc l*'<-sei ip-

lion users. The anti-beer party quickly came out with several announcements determined not to admit defeat, and W ayue It. Wheeler, general counsel of the Aim Saloon League, said real beer could mih l.e sold in eleven Slui'-s, "bub lie enumerated as Billows: Illinois Mary|.„„L .M a xsachus.se ts, Rhode Island, Connectieiit, New York. New Jersey. IVnnsylvnnia. California, l.miisiauia. and Wisconsin. The statement that beer as a medicme was enjoying a full legal status, through the unexpected actum ul the Treasury Department in promulgating regulations permitting its use lm that purpose, came as a tremendous surprise to dry advocates, according to an announcement issued in Washington, and Wavne li. Wheeler, counsel tor the Anti-Saloon League, said the ruling meant convening drug stores into ••Imoze shops,” bill added: "The brew-(M-s have several hurdles yet to make before medical beer is a reality. Most of the State laws prohibit it. Others 1 1 jive limitations that make it impracticable. For instance, Minnesota allows only one pint in ten days; Michigan oniy eight ounces of hijunr Among the States in which "it "ill he practicable to prescribe beet” he specifically mentioned California. Hut the brewers, be predicted, will have

trouble in obtaining permits, owing to their past records. The temperance party announced that they will fight the new phase of prohibition to “the death.” ARMY OF DOCTORS READY. Tn the meantime, Senate opposition to passage of the much-delayed Sterling Anti-beer Bill stiffened perceptibly in Washington. The little group of Senators who hare blocked every effort to pass the Bill have been in conference mustering forces to secure an indefinite delay. Their purpose has been to retain “for the sick and convalescent” the benefits of malt and vinnous tonich.

Back of tho announced purpose of the opposition was a belief that once the manufacture and sale of beer and wine on any scale was sanctioned, the prohibition forces would have a real fight on their hands to banish them.

Eager for some peg on which to hang a positive gain, reaction against the drastic nature uf the Volstead Act. the enemies of the Sterling Bid were determinated to allow the Treasury regulations for the sale of beer and wine on doctors’ prescriptions to have a toll chance.

The promulgation of the beer and wine-regulations bad the effect ot intensifying the demand of th,. dry forces for prompt passage of the (sterling Bill. They let it be known that they would insist on the legislation before any real strides had been made towards general usee of beer and wine, even on prescription.

There are 30,859 physicians, in the country holding permits to prescribe whisky, wines, and beer, according to the records of Federal prohibition authorities. complete up to July l-M kist In the State of Now I ork alone, according to records complete up to August 9th. of this year. tho r<? are 5284 physicians holding those permits. Tt is through these physicans. according to officials of the prohibition unit, that light wines and beer may be obtained under the new ruling

Commenting on the new order. Senator Willis. Republican, of Ohio, joint author of the Anti-Beer Bill, described the Treasury’s action as “an outrage, utterly indefensible.’’ but Senator Broussard. Demon at. ni Louisiana. prominent in the fight, against, the Anti-Beer Bill, suggested (hat the regulations might, have been issued to assist in expediting passage of (lie measure by causing public demand for drp legislation although lie stated there was no intention of letting up in the fight against the Bill. “DRYS” TO INVOKE LAW. Superintendent A. FT. Briggs, of the Anti-Saloon League, stated that the League will fight the new ruling all over America, in order to cause delay in regard to beer being manufactured and sold to “sick” people. UL threatened bringing legal action against any am l all breweries which could. bo proved to have ceased the manufacture of the present “kickless” beer, and started tlmt of the beverage that cheers and taken in sufficient quantities- inebn-

ates. Breweries convicted of violating the Volstead Act arc liable, among other penalties, to lie elosixl for one year. The Anti-Saloon League officials have expressed n determination not to allow breweries to manufacture real liter without a terrific tight in the Courts but latest advices from Washington show that red tape "ill be “slashed” m the operation of the new U-er bill regulations “to give the jreople the benefit of beer and wine for medicinal purposes without unnecessary delay.” according to a further announcement made by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue Blair.

M’liile the “antis” were showing a bold front, breweries and wineries wore rushing preparations to put their I""duot on the market as soon as the new regulations Leonine effective. It "as announced that there would be no lack uf beer and wine, nut only in ( Mifornin, but in all the other States "here the beverages will be permitted on physicians* proscriptions There are many who believe frankly that conditions " ill be similar to those nf British Columbia, where ‘bevc.

were obtainable through the medium of doctors’ proscriptions, and later a Moderation Act was passed "hereby residents could purchase “the goods” l'i„m the Government authorities. The allowance of beer and wines in the States is regarded as the “thin edge „f the wedge” to the subsequent introduction of liquors and all other old time drinks under (lovernuient cnntiul.