South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-01

che remainder Of the war
LONDON, April 1.-Agitation for
national prohibition I'm the United
Kingdom during the course of the war
received strong impetus today from
the letter OF King George TO David
IIoyd-George. chancellor of the ex-
chequer. indorsing the abolishment of
drink and announcing his willingness
TO bar alcoholic beverages from the
royal palaces.
Many men high in public life, in
Guiding members OF the government,
were quick TO follow the example set
by the king and have announced their
desire TO help the nation by becoming
total abstainers. II this social revolu
tion comes about and all the indica-
tions point TO the fact that il Is at
hand il viii put nearly $4,000, 600
persons upon the water wagon"
The drink and the sdbor problem
have become so closely related since
the war began that both are now con-
sidered as one. According TO statistics
go implied for the cabinet w0rkmen
lost on a average OF three days a
week through drunkenness. This state
OF affairs now usually cripples in
dustTies. especially those that are
turning out arms. ammunition and
other supplies vit2Hy needed by the
army. 1t has also handicapped work
IN the ship yards and on the docks.
where there is now tremendous de-
mand for reliable labor to load and
unload merchant ships and transports
Newspapers Join Move.
Newspapers today devoted almost
as much space to the prohibition ques-
tiOn as they did to operations in the
war zone. Most of them are in sym
pathy with the movement because of
the necessity for it, but there are
others which ask for modified pro-
hibition so that the public house
keepers Will not lose entirely their
sole means OF livelihood.
The government revenue from drink
is about $500. 900, 600 year, whereas
the war IS costing $300,00O,00O 2
month Thus the loss OF $500. 0O0. 000
against 100000, 900 is comparative
Is small. the prohibitionists argue, es-
pecially when one considers the added
efficiency OF the wOrkmen in the ar
senaIs and other war supply factories.
War Sec'y Kitchener declares that the
more guns and ammunition the Brit
ish and French armies get during the
next stage OF the war the quicker the
hostiliues viii come to an end.
A new complication arose today
when the allied engineer trades COM
prising $4,000 men, demanded a wage
increase OF $3.50 "A week. The arsen-
ais at WOolwiCh and Erith are effected
by this demand.
Spirits Are Doomed.
Whiskey. brandy. gin, liquors. in
fact spirits of all kinds. are doomed.
On this point ] understand the cab
met is agreed. the only matter re-
manning for discussion and settlement
IS the question OF compensation TO be
fuf or,H IL
tion of this Will not take long, if IN
deed il is not already settled.
IL is known that Chancellor Of the
tXcheQuer LIOyd-GeOrge. who is the
prime mover IN this latest and most
sensational step. has the situation well
in hand and il is probable some Of
hcial announcement concerning il
viii be made tomorrow.
The question OF revenue derived by
tho government from the sale OF
strong drink and which Will be prac-
tiCally wiped out in the event of total
prohibition has not hOthered the cab
met one iota. The government is
quite prepared and even anxious tC
wipe it out with one stroke of the pen
This revenue amounts rightly TO about
40 million pounds annually. but
against this is the fact that the wal
is costing Great Britain at present 81
million pounds monthly.
Would shorten War.
The argument is, if by putting tota
prohibition into force the war will b,
sho-tened-and IL is confidently be
Eeved prohibition will shorten the wa
10y at least three months BY reasoI
OF the immense increase in the outpu
uf munitions Of War-the eXperimea
is well worth while making even from
a business point of view.
Total prohibition would at first IN
fiict much temporary hardship e
thousands who are employed in it
traffic, from making 20 selling. but b
IS believed those concerned would
soon adapt themselves 20 the altered
circumstance and ind new employ
ment. although the average Britishel
is much slower In this regard thar
the American.
Total prohibition would be for th'
duration OF the war only. although il
NJ certain old conditions existing be-
fore the war never would be fully re