The Washington herald., 1908-05-20
Editor The Washington Herald:

Il be the nrst duty or eacn ana every
American citizen who cares for the per-
petuity Of our personal rights, and who
Is ready TO break lance for the in
volatility OF American Institutions.
Wrong Way Is Taken.
First-Both parties, in trying 10 create
reform are going about It in the wrong
way. AS usual. there is a golden middle,
which so far has not been made use
Of. While 1t is patent to the thinking
and intelligent observer that prohibition
does not prohibit, on the other hand it
must be conceded that the system in this
country Of selling liquors, tending bars,
and saloons Is responsible. in a measure.
for the objection made by prohibitionists.
I remember when. years ago, the Hon.
| Henry Wilson, then Vice President OF
the United States. returned from Eu-
ropean trip, IN a conversation had with
| him he frankly admitted that although
/ he was a strict prohibitionist, that Il
he could have drinking places such as
they had in Germany. so-called wine
rooms. where men. women, and children
could go and co-mingle with each other,
| discussing all the questions OF the day
in friendly, normal manner. and taking
their glass Of wine and beer. he would
be decidedly in favor OF that change.
In a conversation had recently with Gov.
Glenn, Of North Carolina, who is a we'll
known prohibitionist. he made the same
admission. Add to this sensible change
the necessary protection on the part Of
the government in preventing the manu-
| facture Of vile liquors. which are mainly
responsible for crimes and inhumanitles
complained OF. you would soon find a
better condition OF things. No legisla-
/ ton can stamp out the natural desire for
| drink; on the contrary, their preventive
/ inspires mental revolt and leads 70 in
temperate action previously unknown.
/ Such legislation stamps out the licensed
/ saloon and creates the Illegal dive. While
| recently in Atlanta Ga, visiting the
houses OF different friends since the pro-
hibition law has gone into effect, found
every home amply supplied with a dozen
/ cases OF beer. wines, and whisky,
| brought about by the drastic law OF that
state I found. further. that the whole
/ sale trade had increased fvefold. that
the newspapers OF that State had whole
page advertisements Of liquor houses re-
siding IA Cincinnati, ST. Louis. and other
cities OF the West and Southwest,
advertising their wares and giving in
ducements to purchase in bulk II the
| friends OF prohibition would only realize
and recognize the rights OF their fellow
citizens in the matter OF thinking, and
~ Grsu1rlwr nA nh
opposed 70 the prohibitionisss would con-
cede 70 their opponents the privilege OF
being sincere in their vague idea. there
would soon be established q middle
ground for conference on a subject that
is vital and important 10 both parties.
How long will IL be before the taxpayers
Of the respective States viii be made to
feel the wrong they have been doing
themselves in stamping out a commodity
that produces the largest volume Of rev
enue 10 the government
Liquor Revenues Needed.
The estimates for carrying on the gov
ernment are increasing continually; we
need more troops in the army and more
ships FOR the navy independent OF other
| important interests. These demands can
not be net by sentiment, but by hard
cash. When the government finds itself
confronted by a dencit Of three or fou.
hundred millions Of dollars a year. owing
1 10 the demands OF our prohibitIonist
/ friends. what viii the valiant and
patriotic members OF Congress DO then
| They Will be compelled to tax those COM
modites which are Incidental 70 daily life,
/ and which the working man needs most
| 10 exc out an existence; therefore. the
State governments and the national gov
eminent VIII be made responsible for the
attempt to tax out Of existence the neces-
sites Of life.
| Have our Protestant friends. notably
those who are engaged in this unnatural
| crusade, ever thought Of the fact that
| If they proceed in their course unrelent-
| lngiy they will drive a large number OF
their people into the arms OF the Catholic
Church, which is more tolerant and recog-
nizes in man the right and privilege to eat
| and drink according to his taste and IN
vironments? II the Protestant church. or
that portion Of II which is pursuing this
course. feels impelled to take this step
in consequence Of q lack Of church at
tendance. It will soon have the opportunity
of selling church property for business
purposes.
Moral questions can be solved only in
the home, where the education OF the
children should be the first duty. and
where father and mother set the example.
Unnatural legislation leads to hypocrisy.
perjury, espionage, and all vices that are
demoralizing to drastic and restrictive
laws. Let q commission be appointed. a
national commission. where all interests
90 Ia =. IL
situation over in an intelligent Amerl-
can fashion, and / am sure that the re-
suits would be satisfactory, and all the
lines Of citizenship would be strengthened.
instead of, as now, broken in two. Re-
cent legislation in Congress in refusing to
reinstate the army canteen is In keen iHe
with the abnormal demands on the part
Of those who are fanatical to an extreme.
Those who are in intimate touch with the
soldiers, their superior officers. almost
without exception have demanded the re-
iBstatement Of the canteen, aware Of the
fact that the absence thereof has caused
more drunkenness, desertion. and crimes
than any other factor. II is credibly be-
lieved that the Brownsville affair would
never have taken place had not the army
canteen been abolished Only the other
day Cardinal Logue in a conversation on
the subject Of prohibition. gave his opin-
ion unhesitatingly. saying that prohibi-
ton was impractical and unnatural; that
in Norway, where prohibition exists as a
state law, they have what is known as
pharmacy law, and the result Is that
every nan, woman, and child has the
cramps" Comment is unnecessary.
SIMON WOLF.
Washington. May ls