The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-01
Desperate War Measures.

Lloyd Georges proposition for prohibition in
England during the war, is illustration of the
extremes to which the contestants in the European
war driven. England was the first country to
give official recognition to organized labor and
for many years the rights of labor has been lead
ing political issue there. The present chancellor
of the exchequer owes his position and influence
to his championship OF the cause of labor. Now
he is the government agent TO propose prohibition
especially in the labor districts increase the
put of the plants which are depended upon for
munitions OF war. 1t is not moral or social re-
form. 1t is war measure, prohibition in
Russia. When nations at war the autl critics
take supreme command at home as in the field
and 1t would not be surprising to sec the govern
ment take control OF the manufacturing plants
which supply munitions OF war; and them as
government factories. AS Lord Haldanc says
England is fighting for life and the people will
submit to any deprivation of personal liberty in
such contest.
The United States government has taken OK
itremc measures in time of war, and would do so
again. 1t during the civil war that Congress
decided to tax alcoholic liquors, tea and coffee and
almost everything the people used, to secure revc-
MUGS, just it provided for the draft to secure
soldiers for the field The President suspended
the writ of habeas corpus and declared martial
cause the life of the nation at stake. The
emancipation of the slaves a measure not
a moral measure Lincoln issued his proclamation
as telling blow at the Confederacy, to deprive
the South of slave labor and make Union soldiers
of slaves. We had more than 1000 900 free men,
the most independent the earth, then submit
ting to the discipline of war, marching, lighting
drilling in camp, at command of their superior
officers, theirs not to reason why" but to do
die, as others dictated.
The nations of Europe engaged in this titatic
struggle, each believing that its very life depends
on the outcome, doing what all people in all
time have done when. engaged in No war
expert has suggested another plan for conducting
war, and we shall go in the same old way in
the future, subordnatng the rights and life of the
individual to the life of the nation.
Prohibition is suggested for England as des-
perate war measure, and it has followed not pre-
ceded the suggestion of CONSUMPTION, where vol
unteers have failed to respond to the call for more
troops to fill the depleted ranks. 1t is just as
we'll to not mix up moral platitudes with such
proposition. Prohibition may be adopted by Eng
land as war measure over the protest of the
labor organizations, for England has always shown
the spirit of "the last man" when her life was
at stake. But it is making burlesque of the
great tragedy of civilization to confuse with des-
peratc war measures parrot-like discussion of
moral issues and social reforms. England was a
pioneer in freedom and individual liberty, and in
peace no men engaged in manual labor WELD more
influence with the government than those in the
great factories of England. At peace the British
cabinet would no more dare suggest m act to
deprive the working men of their individual lib
erty to eat and drink what they pleased. than il