The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1919. PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16801, 3 April 1919, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1919. PROHIBITION IN AMERICA.

Though ■•: the American State Legislatures have ratified the prohibition amendment to the Constitution, it would be a mistake to niagine that the prospect of nation-wide prohibition after January 16th, 1920, lias _been received by Americans with anything like unanimous relief and joy. Newspaper comments snow that relief, joy, surprise amounting- almost to stupefaction, doubts and deen, misgivings have all been anions- the feelings evoked. The States were given seven years in which to ratify the amendment, and it was approved by the necessary threefourths of the States in one year. The "almost intemperate speed" with which the aDnrovals were passed made many opponents question whether the considered judgment of the peonle was involved in such hasty endorsements. The New York "Tribune" declared that it knew of no popular demand for nationwide prohibition. The New York "Times" could only conclude that "prohibition seems to be the fashion," and "the politicians tumble over one another in their ferocity to be recorded," for no other reason than that they "want to be on the winning side." The Governor of New York protested that the amendment had been ratified by its State Legislature by a strictly party vote of the Republicans, without any oroortunity being given to the people to express

their will. There were cries from one side of unconstitutionalism and efforts to upset the verdict., whieli are uot likely to succeed immediately, aud m'oluiscs from tlic other of new Bilks

to provide for the inspection of houses and penalties tor the storing- of liquor supplies before the dry time comes. The motion, winch submitted the amendment to State Legislatures was passed by Congress during- the war, and it was agreed that war arguments and war conditions gave the greatest impetus to the movement, though, as in New Zealand, the issue Avas only decided finally when those reasons for prohibition had ceased to exist. It is a little ridiculous that, quite apart from this amendment to the Constitution, national prohibition will come into force, in America as a war measure pure and simple on July Ist next, if ■> the Act which authorises it is not first annulled. No doubt the magnificent organisation . of the Prohibitionists gave them an immense advantage in getting the amendment through the State Assemblies in short time. It to add, however, that the "avalanche" whose suddenness surprised opponents and miost moderate onlookers would not have been possible if America influenced by the same great organisation, had not been making increasing progress to-' wards prohibition during" many years. City representatives generally were opposed to the amendment.

Whether a wave of impulse, born v of the war which is nojfr ended, a desire to be in jflie fashion or to lead the or a deep conviction, based oy their' own conditions, caused American politicians to rush prohibition .through their Legislatures, the question can only be decided rightly by New Zealanders of their own judgment, in the light of the conditions of this country. Millions of Americans chew gum, but that is not regarded as a reason why New Zealanders should chew gum also. If the United ' States Congress, led by Mr Wilson, passed a resolution to-morrow that, with a coming League of Nations, the British Navy was not required ~ and should be scrapped immediately, we should not find the judgment commended by our Prohibitionists, who regard the American ; liquor decision as an' example " I that should be almost binding, 1 without more consideration, upon other peoples. If millions of Americans approve, . millions' more are deploring prohibition, and all will know more about it' when they have had more experience of its working. There is no prospect of Great Britain following this United States example, and, apart from other differences _ between. New Zealand'and' America, there is one great difference in the circumstances l in which the question will be submitted to electors of this country. If prohibition v is carried here next week it will be weighted with a cost of four and a half million pounds, for which the S.tate will not get onediotel bedroom in exchange, since'. the huge sum will be paid solely es compensation. If America had had to pay four hundred millions, roughly the equivalent for its population, as the wice of its Constitutional ■ amendment, the State Legislatures might have thought anuch longer about passing it.- The issue must be decided here upon - its merits, moral, social, and financial, and they have been so fully canvassed that we havo felt no need to say much about them. To manypeople it must appear, however, that some principles lie too deep to be altered by new fashions of legislation or any examples. John, Milton was not bought by "the trade" or biased in any way when he wrote: "They- are not skilful considerers of human thincs who imagine to. remove sin by removing the matter of sin," and again, "Were I' the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before manytimes as much the forcible, hind-• ranee of- evil doing." Can John Milton have been merely 'foolish?