St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-12-30

The many friends throughout the
state of Hon. Elisha May Of ST.
Johnsbury will extend holiday greet
ings and rejoice to know that he is
steadily convalescing from a serious
operation. While at Brightlook
Hospital in st. Johnsbury he cele-
brated his 72d birthday and many
prominent Democrats throughout
the state sent him greetings. There
are few men in Vermont possessed
of more genial nature and the spir-
it of good will to men" than Mr..
May. Springfield Reporter.
The Prohibition Amendment
Apparently both sides find rea-
son for qualification over the vote
in the house of representatives on
the question of submitting a consti-
tutional amendment to the states
providing for national prohibition of
the liquor traffic. The supporters
of the prohibitory amendment ex-
press their pleasure that the measure
had the support of a majority of the
mem bers voting, while the opponents
rejoice in the lack Of the requisite
two-thirds vote
The fact of real significance is that
national prohibition as an issue has
achieved a prominence which not
only made a test of strength in the
national legislature possible, but was
able to command so formidable a
following when that test came. To
appreciate the progress the "drys''
have made, it is only necessary to
consider what sort of consideration
would have been given such a pro-
posal in congress 10 years ago. 1t
d0niod fhaf tho orf
favorable to the complete prohibit
ton of alcoholic beverages through
out the country has made marvellous
strides the past decade.
Notwithstanding the fact that most
thoughtful men, if they could be
given the absolute authority to de-
eide whether the use of alcoholic
stimulants should cease, or not,
would hesitatingly act Affirmative
ly: nevertheless, the same thought
full men will hope that the propa-
ganda for national prohibition will
not outrun the genuine and sincere
sentiment which must be it's support
if it is attempted. Nothing could
be worse for the true interests of
temperance and the respect in which
all law is held than the adoption of
national prohibitory law before
the sentiment has been created in all
sections to enforce its terms. Be-
cause a law is national in its scope,
instead of being confined in its terms
to a locality, or state, gives it no
superior virtue, if popular sentiment
to back UP the officers charged with
its enforcement, is lacking. In COM
munfties in which a predominant
sentiment is favorable the operation
of liquor stores, located in states
which have adopted statewide pro-
hibition, the prohibitory law is sub
stantially a dead letter; just as it
was in Manchester, which was IA
vorable to a regulated saloon, al
though the state had enacted pro-
hibition law The people OF New
Hampshire finally tired of such
contradiction and local option sue
ceeded prohibition.
Similarly, in those states where a
clear majority favorable to prohibit
ton did not exist. and where VIOLA
atoms of the prohibitory law were
looked upon with tolerance, the law
would only invite a traffic in ILL
city distilled liquors. The federal
official is made of the same clay as
the state, or city, official. He will,
as a rule, enforce law which pub
lie sentiment supports, and will blink
at violations which the majority SEN
timent condones. We recognize
that such a condition is not ideal,
and is not as it should be, but facts
are stubborn things and they cannot
be ignored.
AS we insisted in commenting up
on the recent visit of the "Flying
SQUADRON" to this city, the imme-
date duty of the temperance move |
ment is not legislative but educa-
tional. A real prohibition will only
come as the fruit of long continued
education in the effects of alcohol up
on the human system. We regard
the almost universal practice among
railroad and other big business con-
Germs of giving the preference to men
who do not drink as the most effec-
tive blow struck at the Rum Demon.
That was the result of education.
It's effect is educational. The teach
ing in the public schools of the eff
feet of alcohol is similarly, educa-
tional and tremendously fruitful.
The first generation of school chill
dren to receive this instruction are
now men and women, and we fancy
the growth of temperance sentiment
NAV be traced to this early training
more than to all of the temperance
rallies that have been held, and the
reams of literature which temper
ance folks have put out.
The fight for national temperance,
if won permanently, will not come
as the result of swift charge upon
the enemy's works. 1t will only be
successful after trench warfare in
which ground is gained, inch by
inch, and foot by foot. It will be
the work of years, maybe genera
lions, not of weeks, or months
Manchester Union.