Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-11-21
DRY

t>>l ''> 'S>''
known as large of strong
liquors, Today, we are told, there are
no such liquors consumed in all the
cars dominions. The astounding
spectacle is presented Of a great ma
ton. with territory reaching across
two continents. going onto a prohi-
bition basis, without notice. without
agitation or public discussion, the
whole marvellous change being
brought about with a simple stroke
OF the pen. Today, we are told, in
all Russia there can be bought neith-
er the fiery vodka. the distinctive liq-
o of Russia, nor whiskey, brandy,
gin nor any Of the other strong liq-
uors.
In Russia tho manufacture of vod-
ka was a government monopoly which
yielded a revenue Of $500. 900. 900 a
year. With the suppression Of the
sale Of liquor this revenue has been
wiped out. This sum is about half
the annual revenue Of the United
States government, and we IAN i'm
agin something of the CONSERVATION
which would be caused in this coun-
try were it proposed to adopt a policy
which would Immediately deprive the
government of half It's Yet
this Is what Russia has done, and at
h outset Of q great war, when. II
ever, the government needs all the
money It can raise.
Tho man to whom is attributed this
new policy was born Of peasant par
snts. served as . house painter, be-
came an alderman and then mayor
Of his native town. was elected to the
duma, and, during the course Of q
busy life. amAssed a fortune of Sow
sral millions. All his life he has been
Impressed with the evils which low
from the use of strong drink, and he
. made repeated efforts to bring
about q change. At one time he at
tempted to put q stop to the sale Of
liquor In his native city. AZ the gov
eminent revenues yer involved, he
ascertained how much his city con-
tributed annually in license fees, and
rendered that sum to the government,
with the request that prohibition 70
into effect in his city. This was re-
fused. Other attempts were made at
other times. but without result, until
the war came, and then he was able
to secure an order ~suspsnding the sale
OF liquor for a month. The govern
mont was SO we'll satisfied with the
result that the order was made to be
IN foycA AurIp~ th> -.r -h~~> <h>
matter stands today.
The problem Of finding the revenue
Of which the government is now de-
prived has no been fully solved, but
b prime mover in the matter say
that there will be no imposition Of
additional taxes, but that the financial
situation will be met by rendering
more productive the immense natural
resources which are in the possession
and under the control Of tho govern
ment.
1t has not been made quite clear
on this side as to Just how sweeping
tho new order is. The sale of all
strong liquors has been. prohibited.
but we have seen no statement as to
whether or not the sale of beer aud
wine is also prohibited. One would
naturally suppose that a good deal Of
the effect Of the change would de-
pend on this.
As in a good many other things,
when prompt and decisive action are
wanted, they are to be secured
through autocratic rather than DEM
ocratic agencies. A self governing
country Is governed by a great many
people, and it is necessary for q great
many to agree IN a curse Of action
before that action is taken. In 4 coun-
try ruled by one man, the situation
10 different. Russia's one-man rule
has brought about prohibition. A
little later we will be better able to
Judge what the permanent results Of
h new policy are likely to be.