JOHN BARLEYCORN'S FIGHT IN UNITED STATES

Evening Star, Issue 16995, 18 March 1919, Page 6

JOHN BARLEYCORN'S FIGHT IN UNITED STATES

WILL 818 WITH HIS BOOTS ON. [From Our San Francisco Corre-sr-ONnEN'r.J February 15. Triumph of tho Prohibition movement in the United States exceeds the hopes of tho party advocating this social and economic reform. By a majority the amendment to the Republic’s Constitution has been adopted by the States, and within a twelvemonth manufacture and importation of intoxicating liquor Roll cease. Comments are many and very diverse on tho subject, the following being a characteristic one by the Prohibition Press: “Sneers at laws for the suppression of tho liquor traffic will lose point in a little while. When one hundred million people decide for themselves that this traffic is a useless traffic, that the liquor man’s product, is of no benefit to any consumer, but instead a serious economic loss to a country, those, who dispute those findings will be invited to show ca.se. The moans of the whisky producers whose interest is the interest of ’ private greed, and that alone, will no longer | avail. Defects in enforcing the suppression of the drink traffic hitherto have arisen largely through geography. One State or one province has abolished ihe bar, but in another Stale tho whisky dealer plans a groat offensive for invading what is to him enemy territory- When no spirits can bo made and none imported the real effectiveness of the laws in in- -enting drunken ness and crime will be clearly seen. WILL STAGE “ COME-BACK.“ Prohibition, which has now become part of the basic law of the United States through tho ratification of tho Federal amendment, will wipe out at a stroke 236 distilleries, 992 breweries, and over 300.000 saloons and wholesale liquor establishments, forcing their employees to seek other jobs, and wall cut oft from the United States Treasury a source of taxation counted upon for an even hilhon dollars in the first drafts of the new Revenue Bill, and millions in additional incomes to State treasuries. But John Barleycorn will try to stage a I “come-back.” Distillers are already planning a light on tho amendment In tho courts on tho ground that it was not adopted . bv two-thirds of the whole Congress, and that ihe limitation clause requiring that rati- I fication takes place within seven years, invalidates tho measure. Tho “ Drya ’* say that thev are confident that neither of these contentions will hold, and on their side are preparing legislation carrying heavy penalties for violation of Prohibition. Public men do not attempt to disguise the fact that the foes of Prohibition intend to dispute tho going into effect of tho Prohibition amendment to the Constitution, stop by sten until they have exhausted all their resources of opposition. CONTEST UNIQUE. Such a contest will bo unique in the history of the United Stales. Thera have been other conieds of like nature, but they were local in their scope, appealing to a particular scct’on or to a particular class. Prohibition appeals to all sections and te all classes, and there is just a possibility ihat tho country wili he thrown into a (date of ferment that will do no good to anybody, and perhaps may breed a disrespect for law and order. There is not tbs least doubt that the liquor interests are to die with their hoots on. Every artifice of obstruction and delay that is known in America's archaic form of judicial procedure will ho annealed to. The liquor men have money aplenty, and they purpose spending it freelv. for unless they can win their occupations will be gone, and their invested cap’tel. aggregating many hundreds of millions, will he, in many cases, almost a total loss. Tho country is indeed in for troublous times if respect for law Is to he difficult bo maintain: if impatient cmd_ heady groups and organisations are to deride Its provisions, and if court decisions that stand in their wav are to he treated with contumely; and yet that is what is embodied in the plans the liqiiormeu are making. Tho thorny suhiect is even said to have gome important hearing on the 1920 Presidential campaign, as, if resistance te the law should take on the radical features that are now promised, it is not Impossible that the whole Prohibition question may he submitted to ]>opulnr vote. The liquor would apparently bo delighted to have this done; indeed, that seems te ho (he purpose at which they are aiming. Such a vote would show tho cities on the wet side, broadly ppcak’ng. and ihe rural on the dry side. A fairly even division of opinion, even with the drys having a majority, would lead to an agitation for tho submission of a joint resolution by Congress providing for the repeal of the amendment, and the fight which has just boon finished might have to be made a!' over again. No amendment to the United States Constitution ever,has been I repealed, and no serious effort ever has been I made to repeal one, hut in Micro times when i public sentiment ia in a fluid c tete it will not i jufreq - -cully he tho unexpected that happens. Tho American Ariti-aaloon League would then forger about its plan to make tho world dry bv 1030 and would fceriir itself io keep America, dry. These are some of the th'uu’ihis expressed by public men as they discuss ihe outlook. POLITICAL REVOLUTION POSSIBLE, It has been hinted that should the Senate mishandle tho Peace Treaty a political revohitlon might result, and it is now added ihat nationwide Prohibition opposition might make sufficient headway to give the revolution o, second pressing invitation. The chief talking point of the liquor men is that (he nuijoritv of the people aro at heart opposed I n Prohibition, and would nm hesitate at the pells to declare themselves lu favor of the manufacture and sale of beer and light wines. Another talking point is that Prohibition was forced upon the country during tho abnormal conditions attending a. world war. und that us soon as the country is again normal millions of people who then favored it will he found on tho ori'er side, i These two points would tend to rally popu- • iur support and demand that the country, in the quiet of post-war thinking, be permitted to mv whelhe.r it was satisfied with what has been so hastilv done. A third point is that Prohibition "lobbies’ in Wash in Wn and at the several State capita? have terrorised the lawmakers, and_ compelled them io fake the dry side. recalls the epigram of Representative 'M’Gillicaidy. of Maine, ihat, Prohibition had more | friend? in public and enemies in private than anv- issue ever urcsented in ihe American ! people." What will appeal most to Miocene- | ral public is that tho Prohibition law is the j worst attack the people’s liberty has ever ! been assailed with. Everybody knows that ; in Canada Prohibition has been one of the j Greatest farces ever occurring in that Bominion, n-s (hero has been more illicit I “ booze ” consumed than ever before in the I nation's bister v, and everywhere there is . plenty of whisky obtainable for those who crave it. RUINED GRAPEGROWERS. Th-we are in the State of California—which (lepeudi, largely upon wine export for Eiuppporl—wine grape growers, whose solo source of family income is from (ho sale of wiu'e grapes, and who will undoubtedly mid absolutely bo without, means of support when tho nrasiic Prohibition law takes effect. Probably the number so badly stricken io comparatively small, and yet there are a good many of them. They are those who have vineyards on hill land, where the Boil is not strong enough te produce any other merchantable crop/or even shipping grapes of saleable size and quality. Thoir vines will j jr , <1 ,ce moderate to small crops of wine I grancs, hut. of high duality, hihtorto bring- j ing high pric.es. The distinctive wine grapes 1 are ol im value c'-cent for winemaking. Talk of making grape juice is nonsense. There are very few people who want any n-vapi juice. The Californian University authorities are tryingi to find a practicable way of producing a grape syrup for table use. Such syrup can bo made with a distinctive flavor that wo-hl probably in time find a market at a price; but apparently the cost would be so great that tho sales would be small indeed. Nobody can yet see a way out, ter th“ owners of hillside vineyards Vineyards on strong arable lands can, of course, be devoted to other crops or grafted over to shipping grapes, of which, however, California already produces all that any existing known markets will absorb. And. in any case, there will be heavy loss to tho owners. Dismissing this suhiect, the ‘ San Francisco Chronicle ’ says: “ Tnere is a world-wide determination to abate the abuses of alcoholic d nit. Hitherto the method has been local option, repressing public sale, making each gain a stepping-stone for further advance, and with the least possible interference with family habits. By that pian there baa been steady progress, with no large minorities to feel what they would call oppression, with resulting hate of then- Government. And in every country in the wo-Id, except this blessed land of liberty, extreme care has been taken that those who lost their means of living for the benefit of society should receive from society due compensation for their loss. It has remained for the great, idealistic American people only to recognise, tax, often assist with public funds, and in all ways recognise as legitimate an industry up to a certain hour on a certain dav, and upon that day utterly destroy tho industry and penalise all who attempt to

engage la it, and all without a cent of compensation. It is not decent. It is uob honest. It is not safe. Since society seems to have reached the conclusion that the use of alcohol as a beverage j'aall absolutely cease, and society that respects itself and expects respect from others will insist that social progress shall not march on over homes desolated and families impoverished in the mere wantonnpss of power. Social progress should pay ito debts.’*