Chicago Tribune
ASK EMERGENCY LAWS ON
LIQUOR DURING THE WAR
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Saloon Foes Urge No Sales to Troops and Sharp Limit on Traffic.
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[BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.]
Washington, D. C., April 14. — [Special.] — The national legislative committee of the Anti-Saloon League of America has adopted a program of war emergency anti-liquor legislation. The program embraces the following proposed legislation:
1. No sale of liquor to soldiers and sailors. The sale or furnishing of liquors as a beverage to any soldier or sailor (officer or enlisted man) in uniform or the sale in any military station or naval camp or other place which is used fro training or mobilizing the military or naval forces should be prohibited.
2. "Dry" zones around camp. To prevent the liquor traffic from preying upon our soldier and sailor boys in training or mobilization camps, a "dry" zone should be established around these places.
Would Limit Using Grains.
3. Interstate commerce in liquors. To further limit during the war the power for harm of the beverage liquor traffic, either prohibit the interstate shipment of all intoxicating liquors and all grains to manufacture such liquors or let congress include intoxicating liquors in its designation of narcotics, habit-forming drugs, agreeable to the proved teachings of science, and place them under the provisions of the Harrison anti-narcotic drug act.
4. Food conservation in war crisis. Congress has power to provide for the "common defense and general welfare." It is believed that under this power congress may prohibit grain and food material from being used to make liquor during the war, as well as conserve the fight power of the nation by effecting the prohibition of the liquor traffic. Under this and especially the taxing power of the federal government a prohibitive tax may be levied on the manufacture and sale of liquors.
Suggest Prohibiting Traffic
5. Prohibition. The full scope of this power to provide for the common defense and general welfare in time of war is problematical. Its use in securing previous war measures justifies us in indulging the belief that legislation prohibiting the liquor traffic during the war would be sustained, as it would tremendously increase the nation’s fighting force and safeguard her resources. Some of the above measures are not pending in congress in various forms as separate bills and amendments to military and naval bills.
The committee further makes this state:
"War conditions require a nation to be at its best. The experience of our allies proves intoxicating liquors no only injure the health, efficiency, and endurance of the soldiers and sailors but decrease the resources and power of the people at home to furnish the needed supplies."
