Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-08
B0UTELL HAS SIMILAR VIEWS
Argues That Prohibition Does Not
Prohibit, and Produces
sR
Grave Evils. ME

contentious by Representative Henry a
Boutell of Illinois. who addressed the
convention.
President Hoster Opens Convention.
Predicting the time when the brewer
will be found working with the real and
practical reformers in the interest OF
true temperance. President Carl +. Hos
ter opened the convention
President Hoster declared that. far
from apologizing for being a brewer. he
recognized in every one logical pro-
moter OF true temperance He predicted
a speedy return to license of those states
which had adopted prohibition or local
option.
The pendulum is slowly but surely
swinging the other way" declared Presi-
dent Hoster 1t is becoming more clearly
and generally recognized that the license,
system. which simply spells regulation,
can be made to bring about better re-
suits than anything else that has been
tried"
Bacchanals of Insects.
The prohibitionist is up against hope
less night on the natural law of fermen-
tation. the board Of trustees believes To
quote the report made to the convention:
THE whole vegetable world is in a
SciisPhdts against the DFOnlDltlOrlSt. n0
bees become intoxicated with the distilla-
ton OF the honeysuckle: the wasps grow
dizzy in the d-owsy clover patch and
even the ants wobble in their walk after
they have feasted upon the over-ripe fr.ft
failen from the tree. which has started
natural fermentation.
While the prohibition movement has
been at high tide the sale of beer has
increased D0OO.G0 gallons. and the sale
of spirits has bounded upward 1l.0oo.0oO
ha In
Gn.doo gallons of beer were nearly f.
OUo,Go gallons OF pure alcohol.
More Drink, Less Drunkenness.
And all the increases i'm the volume
of the brewing industry have been made
in the face of the fact that 42,OOO.OOO
inhabitants of the United States are said
to live in dry territory. In these gains
the brewers see signs of hope that the
prohibition movement has touched its
highest spot. and is now on the wane.
'One cannot study the drunk question
without being puzzled by its paradoxes."
says the executive committees report.
1T is unquestioned fact that the
people of the United States are steadily
becoming more temperate, and yet the
consumption of alcohol increases Just as
steadily as the growth of temperance.
Not only is the volume of the sale OF
alcoholic beverages becoming larger. but
the per capita consumption is increasing
What does this mean? Does Ii not
Indicate that while such beverages are
coming into more common use. the people
are learning to use them more intelli-
gently? The old idea that total absti-
nence is the only road to safety is being
replaced by the new idea of moderation.
both in eating and in drinking. by that
of self-control.
Wave of Prohibition Receding.
The vigilance committee believes that
the year just ended marked the height
and the beginning of the recession OF
the wave of prohibition, and So reported.
In Alabama's repudiation of a prohibi-
ton amendment to the states consttu-
ton the brewers see great hope of the
license principle being applied in terri
tories now totally dry. The committee
views with satisfaction the districts
which have swung out OF the dry column.
resume OF conditions through the
states. presented to the convention by the
committee. charges in effect that prohibi-
ton in many states prohibited nothing at
all.
Strong argument for the restoration Of
the army canteen was made in the re-
port of its publication committee.
Public opinion interpreted by the
press of the country and expressed In
many recent elections" he report said.
'1s crystallizing against prohibition. In
spite of the tremendous forces of wealth.
power and fanaticism arrayed in its sup
port, prohibition has not the standing be-
fore the American people which II had
a short year ago"
Would Restore Canteen.
The restoration of the army canteen,
the committee declared. was demanded
louder than ever. not alone by the most
intelligent organs of public opinion. but
by army officers who had witnessed the
results OF its suppression.
Apparently this swelling protest falls on
deaf ears so far as Congress is concern
ed the report said. THE threat of po-
litical retaliation continues to be moro
potent than the bidding of manifest
duty
The last report of the Secretary of War
is quoted as saying the abolition of beer
halls had not made for sobriety and re-
ligious observance among the veterans.
Basing it's statement upon the Secretary
of Wars report. the committee declared
to the convention that in 1909 there were
thirty-two per cent more trials for drunk
enness in the soldiers homes than in 1919,
when beer halls prevailed.
Care of Workmen Advocated.
The report of the labor committee dealt
for the most part with plan for indus
trial Insurance. which is soon to be taken
up with the workmen. The report said. In
part: ''One of the most important topics
Of the day. which is being discussed In
nearly every state is that of employers
liability for injury to their ennoloyes. in
yolving as it does. the whole question OF
to workmen In case of ac-
cident or sickness which can be attrib-
uted to industrial accidents. or occupa-
tfaf IN hofr 70