PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 3

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Was it coincidence) or a happy thought that brought about the appearance of Sir Arbutlmot Lane’s article on ‘ Prohibition in America ’ in the same issue as your loader on ‘Anxious Prohibitionists’? At any rate, the two together cannot but provoke thought, and, if you will'permit it, some comment. The famous Sir Arbutlmot, who after a lifetime of'observations and deductions has initiated a society for diet reform, an old man with the conservatism of age, country and profession clinging about him, journeys to America, and is aghast at sight of a place where drink procuring is strictly private, but the results blazoned to the world. What wonder! In his country the stud' is openly marketed, but the bulk of result is hidden away iu women’s homes, far from Sir Arbuthnot’s eyes. But what seemed strange to mo was that Sir Arbutlmot should dilate over the story of a hypocrite, a not unheard of person in any community, and give in full the latest “ dry ” joke, yet dismiss with a few curt lines the good which lie naively admits has resulted. As with other writers, he mentioned improvement among workers casually, as though there were hut a dozen or so anyway, and the votes of women as a thing not to he taken seriously. His last sentence, about the impossibility for a poor man to get drunk, is more significant than all the Test. Not because the poor man is the only man that matters, but because the comparatively poor are the backbone of a country, and this backbone is keeping itself clean and is growing stronger. After all, the people who are wantoning their, lives away in drunken folly would mostly have done so by some other means, perhaps slower, had this opportunity not presented itself. Sir Arbutlmot admits this. Irresponsible, idle, and vice-seeking, they are consuming themselves Instead of tho women and children, who arc usually the victims,

But, tile Prohibitionists, you say, are anxious. That is understandable, for who has not watched with anxiety the slowly evolving results - of some well thought out action? But the strong man carries on nevertheless. The United States, a country embracing as its subjects people of every degree of civilisation, enlightenment, ignorance, and passion, lias disadvantages peculiarly its own. There is one thing, However, that in the past it lias never lacked —a strong man in its necessity.

i o may reasonably look to history to repeat itself once more. The struggle is now at its death grip, its last fierce encounter, and to relinquish all because the foe they have been combating is naturally straining every nerve to beat them woulcT indicate a weakening of the American fighting spirit. One such struggle has America already had, when many newspapers defended the rights of slavery and quoted the sanction of the Bible. It cost four years of hitter fighting, death, destruction, and wretchedness, hub to-day they do not count the cost too much. The present struggle is more complicated, most intensely modern. New weapons and tactics are imperative. But should it involve, as some suggest, her last million dollars, if she would retain her heart of integrity America will make her law respected. Now Zealand, of course, is looking on with doubt and self-questioning, and the nnti-Prohibitionists are making hay while the sun shines, and do not mention the increased drinking among young people here, especially among girls. The general laxity that has prevailed since the war is not confined to Prohibition America. In New Zealand, however. Prohibition, when it is achieved, will operate under advantages not possible to the United States. Here wo are a small population, mostly British and law-abiding, and wo are not unhealthily rich. We are also_ splendidly isolated. In addition to this, considering the long years we have abided patiently by an adverse verdict, if there is any of the vaunted British fair play In our opponents they will be “ sports,” and let Prohibition have its turn and its chance to make good. Only thus can its actual moral and economic value be truly ganged.—l am, etc., P. M'Lachlax. February 15.