The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
ADRY ENGLAND
BELIEVED UNLIKELY
Public Thinks Difficulties Too
Great to Be Overcome
During War.
MORE STRIKES FEARED
Special Correspondence to TINS Sun.

!
scheme dealing comprehensively with
the drink question in this country must
be so colossal and the interests, fnan-
cial. political and social. are SO enor-
nous as to give pause to the boldest
Minister or Cabinet.
II seems fairly certain. however. that
the great question whistler England Is
to be dry during the war has been
settled in the negative. although 1t Is
generally understood that the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer himself was
strongly In favor Of total prohibition.
AT first the press received the sugges-
ton in fairly friendly manner. Some
few papers and journals. notably the
Spectator. have advocated total prohi-
bltion with enthusiasm. Others have
| attacked Il virulently
There IL no doubt that II was feared
In many quarters that prohibition would
cause strikes OF the most serious ma
| ture. 1t was also pointed out that an
| important class OF laborer would he alb
sol,rely rendered inefficient by prohibi-
ton. Men who work at furnaces.
handle liquid metals and do similar
work have always done II on large
prive them of this would result In their
being. for some time at least. unable
properly to DO their full days work.
would Buy Out Trade.
But whatever the reasons II u as
stunned that total prohibition has been
put aside and that Mr.. Lloyd George Is
now strongly inclined TO buy out the
liquor trade and run II as Govern
ment institution. Tho creation OF a
huge State monopoly such as this would
entail enormous difficulties.
The following figures will give some
slight indication Of the magnitude Of
such an undertaking:
Estimated capital value Of The trade
at least $1,000. 900 900.
Estimated number OF individuals en-
gagged In and dependent on the trade.
1900. 900.
Annual value Of hotels. public
houses. &C. sn.1ss.ss5.
II Il not thought that the trade As
whole would put much difficulty In
the way II a sufficient price were Of
fered, though some Of the big houses
have shown some uneasiness nor Ia II
thought likely that there would be any
| serious opposition from the Unionist
party. Sir George Younger. q member
OF the most famous brewing Arm In
Scotland. an influential member OF the
HOUSE Of Commons opposition party,
who has OMEN been consulted by Lloyd
George on questions OF licensing and
liquor taxation. says:
IL tne government thlnks II neces-
sary ] DO not think the trade should
stand IN the way II they were offered
fair terms. There would be no charge
on the country As q result Of the trans
fer. II the business were to be car
ried on by the best and most reliable
OF the people who arc handling II now
the Government would not only be able
to meet tho interest but would mako
great profit There would be an
AM, rv,on "a to &sl, 4
miniStrative charges. and these. with the
elimination OF unnecessary houses and
breweries and the coordination OF man
ufacture, would In themselves Yield 4
very large addition to the existing
revenue"
With a friendly oprnsdton On tho
House OF Commons and with a large
proportion OF the trade assenting, II
might seem that the Chancellor Of the
Exchequer's alternative 10 total prohih-
ton was in fair way TO succeed. but
the objections TO II will probably prove
stronger than me support.
Too Great an Enterprfse.
Among objections put forward are the
risk of financial failure and a feeling
that no such important step should be
taken without IT'S being referred TO tho
electorate. But the most powerful OBJ
lection OF all Is one that Is strongly felt
even by those who favor tho measure
in principle. This In that the scheme
Is far too great an enterprise to be
undertaken In the middle OF war such
as the present, whom the entire ability
and energy Of every minister and every
business man Is demanded for the one
sole end OF carrying the war to a sue
cessful conclusion.
Further restriction Of hours, the reduc-
ton OF the gravity OF beer. with perhaps
some special regulations with regard 20
spirits, would therefore seem TO be about
as much as the Government Is likely TO
do. There II no doubt that tho Chan
cellor of the ExcheQuer and other mem
bers OF the Cabinet are In sympathy
with a large number OF people OF all
parties and classes who wish to see the
drink system in England entirely re-
formed and have taken this opportunity
OF bringing mo question TO the front at
a time when the agitation has also
served to call attention to the mischief
caused by overdrlnking among the work
men engaged IN the various industries
providing munitions OF war.
II Is quite possible that tho Govern
ment has bean guilty OF a little harm
less exaggeration AZ to the extent OF this
mischief Government by consent fire.
quently demands something OF the kind
The governed have 10 be persuaded ca
joled or scared In order to bring them
TO the necessary pitch of consent. Those
who have opposed prohibition and are
opposing a state monopoly. and who In
short oppose any general drastic action,
point with pride to the fact that arrests
for drunkenness In Glasgow since tho
war began total 1885. against 1923
last year Dockyard officials at Ports
mouth have told the Daily Man that any
suggestion that special drink regula-
tons are necessary would be n libel on
the great majority. That may be so, but
Mr.. Lloyd Georges complaint is that
though the charge IL made only against
n very small minority, that minority Is
sufficient seriously TO hamper the eni-
cheney OF the well conducted ma jority.
All this discussion has aroused an in
terest In wines which. Il Ia believed,
will not be included In any prohibition
measures adopted. Many Englishmen
believe that a greater partially for light
wines would be good for the country,
and that the prohibition Of spirits might
encourage wine drinking.
At present, according TO q wfiter In
the Times, the imports OF wine into
Great Britain, In gallons. II only equal
TO the export OF spirits. and wine cannot
he called national beverage The
writer suggests that the natural par
TALLY for the products OF the home
land may account for the British prefer
ence for beer and whiskey.
1t is pointed out that tho including
Of wines In the prohibition measure
would involve a serious blow at Great
Britain's allies and Mt Australia. More
especially would II strike at France
whose exports to Germany and He,slun,