The Press Thursday, March 4, 1926. Prohibition in America.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18631, 4 March 1926, Page 8

The Press Thursday, March 4, 1926. Prohibition in America.

Our American correspondent send:; us to-da.y some particulars of the sensation, mentioned in our cable messages at the time, which was caused by the publication of the Church Temperance Society's condemnation of the Volstead Act. Nobody will be surprised that the Society's declaration, made through the Rev. Dr. James Empriugham, its •national secretary, and a former vicepresident of the Anti-Saloon League, has caused an uproar which is still resounding. Yesterday, for instance, a cable message reported that BrigadierGeneral Lincoln C. Andrews, who is in charge of Prohibition enforcement, had said he was prepared to recommend a sweeping enquiry into the liquor conditions in the United States, and that Mr Mellon says this cannot help matters. The Bishops of the Methodist Churches are protesting against Dr. Empringham's statements, and Congress is about to begin a:p investigation of its own. We have on the one hand an overwhelming declaration by the members of the Episcopal Church that Prohibition has been potent for evil and a growing sentiment that Prohibition is wrong in itself and is particularly injurious in that it has put an end to scientific temperance teaching and the progress of true temperance. On the other hand we haVe not only the fact that Prohibition has failed to reduce crime and has even created a new spirit of disrespect for law, but also the fact, admitted by General Andrews and Mr Emory Bruckner, that even the Prohibition members of Congress are " afraid "to go after actual enforcement [of " Prohibition] because they are afraid "to let it become known what such "enforcement would cost." Nobody but those Prohibition enthusiasts who, like Mr Upshaw, are ready to face a world war in their zeal against drink, will admit that all these facts are consonant with the theory that Prohibition is a success, promises well, and is approved by the. American people. Other people will regard it as important and significant that after five years' experience of it the American people think less of Prohibition than ever, and that there should be beginning a strong and direct movement towards the modification of the lav, 7 .