Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-03
Referendum Benefits.

A special benefit of the proposed Dis
trict referendum would be the enact
ment of local anti-iquor legislation in
conformity with public sentiment, and
in accordance with the wise principle of
local option which prevails elsewhere in
the United States, and in the most pro-
gressive representative governments in
other parts of the world, as in New
Zealand with its periodical liquor refer
endum, both national and local.
Our liquor law would be determined
in harmony with the principle and pol
icy upon which all the prohibitionist
victories have been won. The liquor
question, as moral issue, is recognized
as peculiarly one to be determined pri-
marily by the individual with the re-
Election of his decision in his own per-
sonal conduct; then by individuals ag-
gregated in small subdivisions like the
township and the county; and lastly by
the individuals aggregated in state and
in nation. The anti-saloon campaign is
rooted in the conviction and conversion
of the individual. Its appeal is to the
individual and to community opinion in
the smallest aggregations of individuals;
and nowhere else than in the District
is there resort to an attempt to impose
prohibition arbitrarily from the outside,
unless and until the appeal to individual
and local public opinion has been made
and hopelessly failed.
The general principle that a law is Of
value only so far as it is enforced and
that it is enforced, speaking broadly,
only so far as it is backed by local pub
lie sentiment applies with unusual force
to laws prohibiting and making criminal
the manufacture and the use Of beer and
the vinegary "wine Of the country"
which in q large section Of the world
and by millions of people are viewed as
the most wholesome and harmless of
available domestic beverages. Such laws
If self-applied or even applied arbi-
trarily from the outside to the average
American suburban or rural community
can be well enforced. But they could
not be enforced in Germany or France
Or Italy; or, nearer home, in Milwaukee.
If not enforced, they lose value and
sometimes become hurtful. The local
vote is a reasonable test Of the fuHness
Of enforcibility and of the prospective
value Of proposed law.
Thus the referendum, while highly ad
vantageous on general principles, is
peculiarly appropriate and in accord
anee with the presidents in respect to
legislation regulating or prohibiting the
liquor traffic.
Assailants of the saloon, the victors
on many local option field, instead of
apparently shrinking from a District
referendum should in accordance with
their traditions welcome it. Instead of
indiscriminatiEgly denouneing the ref
erendum bill, generally and specifically,
they should perfect its wording SO as to
eliminate weaknesses and threatened
maximum of benefits. Instead of slur
ring the local electorate as degraded
and debauchable, they should see to it
that the referendum law is SO worded
as to test the sentiment Of the whole
of the Districts fine voting constituency.
whether men or women, and whether
voters or non.voters in the states. In
stead of imputing to Congress impo-
tency to authorize an advisory referen-
dunn and probable bad faith in refusing
to act In accordance with the advice
given by such authorized referendum
vote, they should remember that Con-
grsss has established the precedent Of d.
recttng . local referendum and of fol
lowing tho sdvice Of such q vote, when
Il has authorized the referendum. In
stead Of slandering the motives Of all
Who favor . local referendum BY de-
nsuAcing than indisssiminately Is
bought BY the distillsrs, brewers or
hqusr dealsRs, AID a. tools Of or
vmpathizsrs with the saloon, they
saxht to accept A. made in good
faith the assurances Of those supporters
Of the referendum who claim also to b
yrohibitionists or at least sincerely hos
tie toward whisky and the saleen. In
stead Of insulting and alternating these
professed and probable anti-ssleon vot-
era. they should strengthen and eenArm
them In tAs prohibition faith and see 70
II, if tho referendum comes. tAaf
they vote IN accordance With their Is
surances.
In . situation that calls for punt.
tive expedition it is generally agreed
that preparedness 10 desirable.