GOMPERS' GOSPEL

NZ Truth, Issue 732, 28 June 1919, Page 1

GOMPERS' GOSPEL

A Pill for the Prohib. Party

WHAT NEW ZEALAND ESCAPED

And What It Is Again Threatened

With

, No doubt we shall shortly have the official declaration of the poll m connection with the Liquor Referendum taken on April 10 last, and in 'view of the general world -wide unrest and discontent, particularly among what are called the industrial classes, it is a matter for congratulation that New Zealand, which, m common with countries of the world, is having troubles, di" reject, thanks to the soldiers, a proposition^ which, had it been given effect, would have* intensified the evils against which we wish to guard. These evils, which are but the outcome of class dominating glass, lead to rebellion, strife, and untold misery, and he will be a wise statesman m New Zealand and elsewhere who eventually SOLVES THE PRESSING PROBLEMS ' which the war has created. During the course of the campaign which preceded .the vote of April 10 last the people of this country were regaled with all sorta of stories, purporting to como from America, of the benefits— and the evils— which had followed m the wake of Prohibition, even as a war measure, and one of the most frequently- quoted Americans] was the Labor leader, Samuel Gom- j pers, who, without a shadow of doubt, is a' man of striking personality, and Is . a force ,to be reckoned with by the capitalists of the United States of America. e> ' Shortly before the taking of the Referendum "Truth," which did not hide the fact that it was strongly opposed to the aims of the Prohibition Party m this country, was able to definitely state that one result of Prohibition m Canada and the United States of America was to intensify the very bitter feeling which was growing between Labor and Capital, and that the workers had adopted as -their slogan, "No beer, no work!" The sources of "Truth's" information were American newspapers .which were not partisan m, the Prohibition movement, but were concerned generally with the unrest and discontented state of mind which the working classes of America were m, because of the infringements of their rights. It is no answer to such statements to say that what happens m America will not happen elsewhere. The fact of the matter is, the working classes everywhere are m much the same position. It is true that they sTiould be contented with their lot m New Zealand — at least that is

WHAT . "FAT" PROHIBS. SAT m this country, but we find that the "Fat" Prohibs. m all countries say similar things, and it is not at all surprising to find, as we did find, that the general unrest which pervaded the toilers and moilers of the United States of America had been more emphasised by the imposition on them of compulsory teetotalism— in itself a suggestion that the American working man was a drunkard, a ne'er-do-well, who could not be trusted to wisely indulge m his favorite tipple. As showing how correct "Truth's" interpretation of the news which appeared m American newspapers, we direct attention to the cabled news which has recently appeared m the columns of the daily Press of this country. In tho first place we find that Mr. Samuel Gompers has been re-elected President

of the American Labor Federation, a very powerful organisation, arid that Mr. Gompers was called upon to give evidence before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which had been set up to investigate the question of Prohibition m America. We find that Mr. Gompers is reported as saying: — American Labor resented the Prohibition laws. He, personally, was apprehensive regarding the results, unless the use. of light beers was allowed. That an , ■ "

ANTI-PROHIBITION DEMONSTRATION at the Capitol at Washington on a large scale voiced the Labor disapproval of Prohibition indicates how strong the feeling is among working-men m America against Prohibition, and this strongly bears out the contention which this .paper has always endeavored to impress on New Zealanders, that Prohibition is an antiindustrial dodge, engineered by faddists and fanatics, who would run the risk of plunging the country m anarchy, provided that their scheme of compulsory total abstinence was made the law of the country. - ' , "Truth" has endeavored to keep before the people, of this country the benefits likely to accrue from a sensible form of State Control or National Ownership of vthe liquor trade, or, what is more to the point, a revenueyielding Industry, and while not losing sight of the fact that the only solution of the troublesome question of liquor is State Control, we do not wish to be taken as declaring that this reform is so urgent that it should be Immediately enforced. The great social and economic questions which have been brought to the front by the conditions created by the war demand that immediate attention must be given to problems, such as the housing of the people and the general betterment of our . conditions, and the laboring man is not the only individual who calls for relief.. We have iMVer hesitated to say,, and now rejv^t, that the question of reform of theA liquor trade is one which should nofjibe pressed, to the exclusion of oth<j ( r and more urgent or- necessitous undertakings. Liquor reform can be corsidered when we .have settled our soldiers, seen to it. that the 1 men who won the . war receive what is their due; that the wives, the children and the dependents of those, brave 'men who unhesitatingly gave their lives for the Empire, are not left m distress and poverty; when, generally speaking, we have resumed the normal, and faced and overcome the enormous difficulties which offer .themselves today. We are conscious of the fact that the wowser, Prohibs. of this country are preparing for another onslaught on \

THE CITADELS OP LIBERTY, that they decline to 1 recognise the voice of the people r which •is against Prohibition m any shape or form, and the only alternative, fthat a distressed community can .adopt is to resolve that when the wretched, liquor issues are presented to them 'at the next General Election day, to vote emphatically against Prohibition, or any other issue which will give the wowsers a chance of disturbing what few settled conditions prevail.

Incidentally, the leaders of Labor m New Zealand, or those who. aspirg to the leadership of the unwiedly mass called Labor, should instead of sitting on rails, and playing with the question of Liquor, take. a leaf out of the book of the .man G6mpers/-who, without a doubt, enjoys the confidence of , the industrial classes of America*, and can speak authoritatiVely on their behalf.

For too long m New Zealand, the Prohibitionists have succeeded m splitting Labor on the Prohibition issue, and by so doing have retarded Labor's political progress. Let the men who presume to speak for Labor m New Zealand, summon their strength and courage \ to their, aid, and ■ fearlessly stfte ,thr>t. if jProhibition became the law of New-Zealand, chaotic conditions would:- 'result.