"AN EVIL LAW."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 3

"AN EVIL LAW."

PROHIBITION IN THE STATES. VIEWS OF THE " CHURCH TIMES." inoit oua trwm coaa*spoKDjcsr.) LONDON, May #3. The "Church Times," describing prohibition in America aa "a silly and evil law," gives a word of warning to those who might desire to make prohibition in this country a plank during the election. Such people, points out the "Church Times," should study the. Prohibition bill of America, which last year totalled. £185,000,000. i "In addition to this gigantic nun the toil of "human lives must also be | considered," continues the article, "nor [ can America set off against this loss any great reduction' in crime. Indeed, the fact remains that in spite of Prohibition the criminal statistics of the United States remain, as their President has recently observed, exceptionally high." The article states that the idea that it was possible to bring up the rising generation without knowledge of alcohol had proved to be absurd. Yet another indictment of Prohibition was that ''this absurd policy" might estrance relations between Canada and the States. "That a foolish law," says the "Church Times," "should threaten the friendly relations between two great countries is deplorable. While the American people insist on keeping this perverse legislation on their Statute book, we consider that British subjects act wrongly in endangering lives by helping Americans to violate it; but no less blameworthy are the foolish people among ourselves who give any moral support to"a 9illy and evil laye." Local Option. In a, paragarph .of its summary the "Church. Times" condemns the legislative programme of the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches. This programme embraces Local Opiton, the bringing of clubs into line with public houses, and Sunday closing. Of local option the "Church Times" says that it ia not democratic and insists that a majority of 75 per cent, should be essential. The club question is .condemned -as "curbing the hospitality of the poor," while no rich man's club, it-states, would be harassed in the least. . Sunday closing is condemned m the light of* Welsh experience, which shows that this move has merely led. to "horrible drunkenness along the -border. " It ' would be "resented * by young , men who liye in lodgings and prejudice them against religion. The "Church Times" sums up its attitude as follows:. "We respect the motives Oj. the . enthusiasts, but -we feel it neces-, sary .to .point out that there arc two I sides :to the qnestion which they arc raising. l '-