The Washington herald., 1915-04-07
'bRITISHERS BALk
AT BAN ON beer
Papers Up in Arms and Gov
eminent Won't Press
Point.
CALL IT CONSCRIPTION
King Puts Pledge Into Effect in House
hold and Many Noble House
holders Follow Suit.
CALL IT CONSUMPTION

| London. April 6.-By sounding political
leaders throughout the country, Premier
Asquith and his cabinet have learned that
| British national sentiment Is strongly
opposed to any edict imposing universal
| prohibition. As a result, II was learned
| from an authoritative source today, no
| measure to that end will be introduced
when Parliament reconvenes on April IA.
The governments efforts will be direct
ed toward promoting the movement for
voluntary abstinence. as initiated by
| King George and the royal household.
and regulating the hours when alcoholic
| beverages SHALL be sold. measure fix
| ing further restrictions on the hours Of
sale is likely to be the only definite
| measure introduced.
The Evening News took the lead to-
day In crystallizing public sentiment
| against general prohibition. saying:
I'VE do not desire to see the entire ma
| ton brought as conscripts into a 'teeto-
taller assembly, believing such wide COM
pulsion unnecessary. By his volunteer
| act tbanishing wines from the royal ia
ble) the King has set an example of self
denial which We trust will be of great
effect We do not doubt many feel that
where the monarch led they can follow.
but to force them to follow is an entirely
different thing.
We believe We should find this out to
our cost IL the experiment were tried
The Star also takes the same stand.
1t SAYS:
"COnfessiOn of weakness.''
prohibition in any form is undoubted-
ly confession of moral weakness. 1t
would leave the selfish rich man un-
touched. 1t is the duty of the better
classes to lead the way to voluntary alb
stinence.
Whatever form of compulsion may be
necessary, this volunteer movement is
the right and proper prelude. overture,
and echo"
The royal household went dry" today
for the first time in history when King
George banished all alcoholic beverages
from the palaces until the end Of the
war.
Practically all the members Of the
court followed the example OF the king
and gave orders that all intoxicants
should be barred from their households.
This was the banner day for prohibition
In the British Isles-the greatest day the
cause Of temperance has ever known.
There are many who believe that the
traffic in alcoholic drinks will never again
be a factor IN the business and social
life Of the United Kingdom.
When the cabinet meets tomorrow to
take up the prohibition question among
other measures, it Is expected that an
official announcement will be made rela-
tive to the governments future policy
on the sale of intoxicants.
Scotland Is Opposed.
Considerable opposition to the prohibit
ton movement mas developed in Scot
land.
The Chronicle predicts that all the
already done SO will follow King Georges
example Immediately
Practically all of the newspapers enthu-
siastically praised the sacrifice made by
the King
We most enthusiast tically indorse the
Kings action in prohibiting intoxicants
In the royal palaces" says the Evening
News.
Says the Pail Mall Gazette: 1T rests
with every true Englishman to prove
before his conscience that his love Of
country can discipline his most init
mate self and make him find true pride
in the subsection OF his every day life
to the vision of England's just and
glorious triumph"
I'VE have not the smallest doubt that
the Kings example will be widely fol-
lowed" says the Westminster Gazette.
while it is very doubtful IL total pro-
hibition would be a practical solution.
it is none the less true that public
opinion approves and supports the ac-
ton taken to reduce the present ex.
cessive drinking"