THE TRUTH ABOUT CANADA

Evening Star, Issue 17226, 16 December 1919, Page 4

THE TRUTH ABOUT CANADA

[PUBLISHED BY ARRANGEMENT.]

PROHIBITION CREATES CESSPOOLS'OF INIQUITY. PUBLIC MEN", THE'CHURCH, LABOR DENOUNCE PROHIBITION. A REPLY TO "SAMPLE LINES." . OPEN LETTER. TO THE ELECTORS OF NEW ZEALAND. From Hon. Sir Charles HibbeTt Tupper, K.C., K.C.M.G., LL.B., Sworn --Member Privy Council, late Minister of Marine and "Fisheries, Minister of Justice, Solicitor-General of Canada, Agent H.M. Government, Behring Sea Arbitration, etc., Vancouver, 8.C., October 3rd, 1919. To to tie Electors of New Zealand : . I have been requested to express my opinion as to whether Prohibition in Canada has been a success. I am personally opposed on principle to 3-egislation prohibiting the use of alcoholic ■timulanta, though 1 strongly favor stringent regulations of the liquor trade. My experience of the'so-called " Prohibitory Liquor Law" in the Province of British Columbia has confirmed my views. Total Prohibition is not only contrary to the practice sanctioned in Holy Writ, but is contrary to the 'history of a large .portion of the civilised world, and particularly to the history of British legislation. Indeed, the use ot alcoholic stimulants is recognised in our Act in the case of the Church, the Sick, and Science. The manufacture is therefore essential. By reason of the prohibitive enactments many have been unable to obtain stimulants where essential to health and life. No law can be effectivo which offends the sense of a considerable and respectable portion of the people, and no penal law, no prohibitive liquor law has, as far as I am aware, prevented wealthy men escaping its provisions. It bears, therefore, un° equally upon and distinguishes between rich and poor. Such a law cannot lonostand. ° _ The attempt at enforcement in the provice of British Columbia has been a veritable farce. It has produced perjury and deceit of all kinds, and therefore tends to bring laws generally into contempt. Since this Act was promulgated, we have seen tie Police Force largely increased, and at the same time the growth of the business of the "blind pif" and "boot-legger" established, with "corruption and dishonesty rapidly increasing. I firmly believe the present law will be repealed. Yours faithfully, (Signed) CHAELES HIBBERT TUPPER. DEATHS FROM PROHIBITION A CORONER'S TESTIMONY, At Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 27th last, Coroner Jeffs, whilst holding an inquest on James Alexander commented on the fact that since Prohibition lad ben in-effect a largo number of men had died through alcoholic poisoning toy dunking poisonous decoctions, etc proving conclusively that under a wellorganised license system this state of affairs Tvould not exist.—' Vancouver Daily PROHIBITION PROMOTES THE! DRUG HABIT. PROHIBITION IN CANADA, GREAT INCREASE IN DRUG .IMPORTATION.

„ . 1816. 1919. Cocaina „.. ... 5,381 ounces 12,333 oußces Morphine ... 15,495 „ 30,087 „ Opium (crude) 1,741 „ .. 34.263 ! Official figures from Department 'or Tradeand. Commerce. . /Ffceso 'figures do not include quantities oi.the three drugs imported illegally, which police authorities claim will exceed the legal imports. NBW WESTMINSTER TRADES COUNCIL. Resolved—That this Council go on record as opposed to Prohibition from an economic and social standpoint, and report this decision to the various unions with the request that they help to defeat Prohibition. EXTENSIVE ILLICIT TRADING, _- Toronto, October 3.—Making a .total of 2,460 quarts in 48 hours, the police yesterday seized three more large shipments of liquor from railway freight yards here. ' Daily Star,' Montreal. Brookville, Ont., October 7.—One of the largest seizures of liquor since the Ontario Temperance Act was passed was made yesterday at Smiths Falls, when Inspectors A. G. Silas and F. B. Tabor, of Brockvi'tle, seized a freight car which was- in transit from Montreal to Yorkton, Sask.— ' Star,' Montreal. A GREAT FAILURE. Senator J. M. Wilson, of Montreal, Quebec, one of the most brilHasl senators in Canada, telegraphs:—■ Prohibition so far in Canada has proved to be at great failure. Boot-leg-ging ia flourishing and distributing only poorest quality goods. Illicit stills have enormously, also a terrible increase in the rise of drugs generally, AHithoratiea cannot cope with present situation. Change must be done shortly. Oil system of. license strictly enforced should >be the quickest remedy.— (Signed) J. M. mLSON. CANT 5 HYPOCRISY, AND HUMBUG. Mr Henry B. Thomson, Food Controller of Canada, who is regarded as one of the most dear-tlunking and far-seeing* Canadians of the day, and who is at present representing the Canadian Government as Chairman of the Canadian Trades Commission, London, England, with reference to Prohibition, states :—■ * Prohibition leaders in Canada and other countries will require a larger supply of cant, hypocrisy, and humbug than They have used in initiating Prohibition if they hope to succeed. It is a fake proposition. Its very name is 'counterfeit, and to the elector it is a " goldbrick" of the most pronounced type. It is freak, experimental legislation/and no jrrtclfeent elector can possibly support it. It will breed a face of liaTs, hypocrites, impostors, and cheats, and •will make criminals and perjurers of otherwise respectable citizens. It has established the blind-pig and bootlegger irith distributions of poieonous decoctions, and in CANADA HAS PROVED A FARCE.—(Signed) HENRY B. THOMSON, Food Controller for Canada. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH . ~ VIEW OF PROHIBITION. Hon. Senator Bostock, Cabinet Minister, 8.C., writes: In the Province of Alberta a resolution was pacsed by the. Synod of the Anglican Church favoring" the use of wine and beer by the people. All of which shows that the people of Canada are NOT SATISFIED with the present condition of the lav/.—(Signed) M. BOSTOCK; VANCOUVER TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL. Resolved—That the Trades and Labor Council of Vancouver, in harmony with representative bodies of organised Sahor elsewhere, places itself upon record as opposed to Prohibition and to the principle involved JUWreliw