THE BOOTLEGGER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1924, Page 7

THE BOOTLEGGER

DEBATE BY COLLEGE

HEADS

WHY DOES THE LAW FAIL?

UNEXPECTED BUT INTERESTING.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIOHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN-SEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION^

(Received Ist May, 9 a.m.)

NEW YORK, 30th April

An unexpected debate on Prohibition between President Butler, of Columbia, University, the foremost educationist in the United States, and President Brooks, of the University of Missouri, both guests at a dinner, caused great, disorder among the guests, who, in spite of the toast-masters' pleas, rose to their feet applauding and cheering the disputants. Dr. Butler declared that Prohibition was not enforced because it was uot enforceale, and attacked the clergy who supported the activities of the AntiSaloon League. He said: "The bootleggev alone is satisfied with the present situation. What we need is a liquor policy similar to that of Quebec, which would pour into the Treasury £00,000.----000 dollars a year that is now going to the bootlegger. We are down in the valley of darkness, lawlessness, and contempt for order. The situation demands courage ; intelligence, and reason. I have faith in the American people's ability to correct it."

Dr. Brooks, abandoning his set speech, said it was not the Eighteenth Amendment that caused lawlessness; it was lawlessness that frustrated the Eighteenth Amendment. "Our regulations are democratically established.' We cannot change them by disregarding them, but by; employing some democratic machinery. How many bootleggers would there be if there were none to buy ? Prohibition has ccme to stay,' but what the American people want is a discussion of the fundamental necessity of the law."