PROHIBITION IN U.S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 5

PROHIBITION IN U.S.

\mism RECOMMENDS REPEAL SO FAR AS IX. APPLIES JO, WINE AND BEER. • By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. . Cable Association. WASHINGTON",' Hay m. President Wilson/ in" a message to Congress, recommends the repeal oi prohibition, in so far as it applies to wine and beer. POSITION IN AMERICA TWO DISTINCT- PROBLEMS. The National Council of New Zealand has received the following letter from the city editor of the ‘‘New York Herald.’’ in answer to cabled inquiries regarding the- present -position, of the ' liquor question in the United States of America; — - NEW YORK, March 28,, 1919. ( I beg to acknowledge receipt of cablegram of March 27th, asking certain questions concerning the status of the liquor question in this country. It should first be distinctly understood that there .arp.,,two problems of this character npw agitating the people of the United States. These problems have no direct relation to one ( another. The first of these is prohibition (beginning July -Ist next) enacted'' by "Congress as a war measure 'foF'theWfmsSi 0 ration of wheat, grain, etc. The necessity for this prohibition having passed with the cessation of the war, there is much agitation for its repeal. The President of the States alone has the power to do this_ under the - extraordinary authority granted to him by Congress during the period of the war. He has as yet made no announcement as to his intentions. The only movement afoot to test the of this wartime Prohibition Act was started a month ago by certain brewing interests, which have renewed the toewing of beer containing '2.75‘ pe'r bent, alcohol. Their right to do this will, of course, be tested in the courts, —— The more important situation deals with national prohibition as an amendment to the , Federal Constitution. Three-quarters of the States'" haying, ratified this amendment, it is. now-part of the Constitution of the United States, and becomes operative on.Janu-. ary 16th, 1920. There will ho a test in the courts.of the of this amendment, . although cno. action* has actually, been,.started-yet,. -There are several grounds on, which -this contest will he waged. One is- that it is opposed to the principle of personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution. Another is that it has taken away the sovereign right of the States. The third is that -it was ratified' hy State Legislatures without any reference whatever to the will of the people. In the State Constitution* ,0f many of the States which ratified, there are specific provisions that no" constitutional amendment may be ratified without a referendum. This will pndoubtedlv be the basis phjef , contest. If upheld, the ratification would fall down because oil the States wlrioli ratified have a provision for a "referendum in their State Constitutions.

In answer to your question concerning; the action ’of ' * Rhode' Island, two Rhode Island Legislatures have refused to ratify the amendment. On March 11th the Legislature of Jlhode Island passed'aresolution authorising... the . Atterney-;.; ‘General of that. State to .take ’ steps', to.obtain prompt (-determination by : the United States .Court of -the constitutionality of the Federal amendment. The Attorney-General of Rhode Island has not, as,yet moved in thematter, but doubtless will.Jator on. , Your question concerning' the likelihood of prohibition creating discontent and industrial-unrest is-‘■difficult to answer. There«is- no question ibuf that there is great discontent ,;at.;.thistime, most of it being" over the- fact that the people had no .yoico' in, this. important decision. Th.er,e „.is threatened industrial Wrest in case prohibition becomes an actual thing. It remains to be seen, however, whether such a condition will arise. The general impression is that labour in this country will adjust itself-to conditionseven if the conditions are distasteful t „ There is a great deal of agitation among soldiers and working people against the Wartime Prohibition Act, ns well as the constitutional amendment. This is growing daily, but there is little likelihood of it even taking lawless or violent form. The principle of the recall is not in operation in this country. Therefore, strictly speaking, a constitutional amendment cannot be recalled. • Such amendment becomes effective when ratified by three-quarters of the States. It is extremely difficult to, get a constitutional amendment. One having been obtained it is almost impossible to get three' quarters of the States to ,withdraw.,it. Therefore I feet I ain conservative in saying that if the United States Supremo Court upholds the constitutionality of the Federal amendment on prohibition (which goes into effect " on January 16th, 1920), if will lie many years before the necessary legislation can be secured to-•‘ldiF’'if.

If there is anythin!? furth.er in this matter that I can tell yon. please advise me.—(Sgd.) W; A.‘WILLIS, city and acting managing-editor.