New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17

ing also that q few more states viii
have gone dry in the mean time, 10
would be pretty near a certainty that
eventually the amendment would DO
adopted.
The situation thus created would
have many elements Of peril Three
quarters OF the states OF the Union,
with "a minority Of population. would be
Imposing their viil' ir typical Prus-
sian fashion on onc-Quarter Of The
states, with "a majority OF tho popule-
ton. These words arc written after a
canvass OF aIl shades Of opinion in
Congress, among administrative of
cials, among propagaudlsts Tor and
against prohibition. he resultant on
The mind OF a neutral observer is clear.
First Of all. IL appears that tho opin-
ions thus obtained probably are a true
reflection % the opinion Of the whole
country. Without attempting 20 say
whether the FINAL outcome Of prohibi-
oon would be good or bad, 70 seems 10
be generally believed emitting radical
prolihitioniste. Of course that the
situation would be analogous TO that
obtaining 500 tho South after the adop-
ton OF the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments. Ways were found to
nullifv or cvade them.
Liquor Lobbyists stupid"
10 ia the purpose Of. this article TO
state the situation as Il exists here
40 present and 90 point out the i'm
mediate probabilities unless conditions
change. Prohibition is certain "a. be
imposed on the country unless the
evils Of the liquor business arc great
lv lcsscncd and unless the associated
liquor dealers and brewers OF tho
United States begin 20 act with poiit-
cal Intelligence. 10 Is the unmlstakaoie
opinion in Congress that the liquor
fellows m the lobby are stupid asses
IN TO WAY equal 20 their shrewd op-
ponents in the prob bition lobby.
One instance Of lack of pohucel
Rcumcn on tho part OF the liquor lcl-
lows" proves the case. as a Federal leg
islator looks 81 IT, In December, 1917
Do was not Hobson, but the liquor
crowd. who forced the amendment to a
vote. Mr.. Uobson and his friends ga
lot know tbcy had . majority, because
a large number Of the members 1ad
declined 30 express an opinion. MI
Hobson wanted 10 leave the amend
ment in mmittee. a vote gave no
tactical advantage 20 the liquor men
but they insisted just TO sho" NOD
SOM
"Tbe distillers and brewers Of the
United States have themselves 20 blame
for the present situation, which threat
ems 10 make this government take
step I'm paternalism which even 3 Ger.
man would resent" said member OF
the House who has sat 80 many Con
crosses "If they do not act WIN
+ Intelligence very soon they need nor
be surprised II national prohibition
and confscation take them unaWares'
Examples Of Stupidity
"ln what ways have they been acting
b with special stupidity:'
"WcU." he replied, "I1l give you
couple OF instances that all tho "orld
knows about Take my little town l.oor
Example No. /. Before we went no d.
ccrse' old S. Towncr. the village
drunk. could drink himself blind IN the
saloon. which he frequently did anC
tSar he nernitted 20 take bottle home
with him. He used 90 beat his wife anc
children and break the furniture },
took prohibition 20 stop him. lie coulo
/ have been stopped by little lntelh-
gerce on the part Of the liquor dealer
take New York for Example NO. :
/ Walk up Seventh Avenue and you VIII
pass frequent corners with -oer Sd
/ looms 10 the corner, all owned by brew
er.es. Four where one would be ample
for the needs Of the population. That 3
what We mean by unlntelhgent man
agement. They have chance 10 save
. the best part Of the business. Bull
headedly they are on the way TO lose
10 all" ,u,..,.-
. Comparatively speaking. prohi3iuon
for the District of Columbia, which mas
occupied almost the entire time OF tne
Senate for days now, which rs stu! pc
fore that body and which is hHlng
pages and pages Of The Congressional
Record" is not Of great Importance as
against the main proposition. There, IS
lttle doubt here that prohibition 1or
the district viii come within a very
short time. Senator Sheppard, OF Texas
aided by Western and Southern repre-
sentatlves Of the prohibition states Is
pressing the bill ,.
The Bin imposing prohibition on the
District is interesting in many way f.
Senator Underwood, Of Alabama, IN
tends 20 fight for a referendum, per-
hitting the people Of the district TO
saw whether they will have 1t or not
Senator Kern would AMEND the refer
endum 20 permit women as well as men
D 10 vote. Nardaman. Of Mississippi
/ raves about the referendum because
/ one-third Of the population is colored
and Nardaman declares the purity OF
/ the unsullied white race is threatened