CONFLICTING OPINIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 9

CONFLICTING OPINIONS

EFFECT OF PROHIBITION

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 8 p.m. Washington, Jan. 16. The tenth anniversary .of Prohibition which was begun on January 16, 1920, was celebrated to-day - throughout the nation, and in Congress Senator Blaine offered a resolution for the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, declaring it was not able to be enforced, except with sheriffs and a Federal Judge in every township. “Experience demonstrates that prohibition is a failure,’- said Senator Blaine. “It is bound to be a failure. Any law to regulate the purely personal habits and customs of the people has always been a failure. Nowhere and in no time has prohibition been enforced or been able to be enforced.”

Senator Sheppard rose to review the achievements of “a noble experiment.” He said; “Prohibition continues its triumphant trend and is necessary in this age of machinery.” Representative Cooper, speaking in the House of Representatives on the question, said: “1116 history of the liquor traffic reveals it as a foe to orderly government and a breeder of lawlessness, and on no other terms can the lawabiding people of our country meet it except upon that of unconditional surrender.”.

The anniversary was celebrated with remarkable vigour and in various ways in a number of cities throughout the United States. Boston saw the Liberal Civic League, which opposes Prohibition, hold a meeting “in memoriam, the death of liberty and the 1363 who have been killed in the civil war of prohibition.” The organised “drys” represented by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, heard the United States Commissioner for Prohibition, Mr. Doran, outline the progressively more successful work of his unit. “America is becoming gradually drier every day,” he said. How public sentiment was divided was indicated by the wearing of white ro‘settes by prohibitionists and black by anti-prohibitionists. The Chicago Women’s Christian Temperance Union had a birthday party with a cake and ten candles. The cake was cut and the guests served. It bore the motto, “It is tho Constitution and it is there to stay.” Detroit saw a meeting of representatives of the National Anti-Saloon League, at which a re-affirmation of the policy was read, stating, “The need for such an organisation as the Anti-Saloon League was never more imperative than to-day. • The task to which the league is committed has not been fully accomplished. Resolutely and devotedly we set ourselves to the completion of that task. We stand for adequate appropriations to meet the demand for making the Eighteenth Amendment fully effective.”

Other interesting developments during the day were the exchange of liquor treaties betwen Japan and the United States, whereby the former xtend to America the right to board, search and seize Japanese vessels illegally carrying liquor within an hour’s sailing distance of the United States’ shores. It is announced that a Canadian and American conference to examine the question of border control for the purpose of better controlling the flow of liquor across the Canadian line will shortly be held. It is understood that no effort will, be made to conclude a treaty on the question, but unofficial agreements will be worked out for mutual co-operation.