The Washington times., 1917-08-01

isIation OF the sort proposed will not
mean true temperance. This legisla-
tion places on a parity whiskey and
| gin and beer and light wines. 1t
| draws no distinction between the
| whiskey drunkard and derellct and
the working man who takes his glass
OF beer after an honest days toll.
at would Danish whiskey and
gin and brandy, with their high per-
centages of alcohol, and with them
| put out the milder stimulants, such
as beer and light wines, which con-
tain comparatively little alcohol and
are quite harmless when used in mod
Grafton.
| Stimulates "Hnrd- Liquor Drinking.
Tens of millions OF persons in
other ountries-France, Italy, Ger
many. and England-Are not de-
prived, even in war times, OF these
milder stimulants. They are given
to the soldiers behind the lines and
the old men and women who remain
at home. 1t is nowhere claimed that
lighting efficiency is lost thereby or
that drunkards have been made.
Drastic prohibition laws drive out
the milder stimulants. because 1t Is
more difficult to handle them. They
do not drive out 'moonshine' whiskey,
supplied in a pint bottle carried on
the hip, or the gin or brandy sold
by the Illicit dealer.
"In countries where the drinking
of light wines and beers is permit
ted and bad whiskey is taboo there
are no recurrent prohibition cam
paigns. They are not needed. There
is no more comparison between wills
key and beer and the lighter stimu-
Iants than between coffee and CO.
caine or tobacco and opium.
"But II seems unfair and unjust to
inject into the affairs OF the nation
at this crucial time a nation wide
campaign for prohibition that will
disturb industry, work injury to le-
ultimate investment and deny to mil
lions comparatively harmless bever-
ages This country should have its
mind on war, not on political battles
in forty-Sight States for and against
the prohibition propagandists.
Food Bill Sufficient Check.
by common consent since the out
break of the war there has been a
general putting aside of partisan is
sues, domestic wrangles and little
things that have kept the public mind
occupied IN days of peace. Only the
prohibition propaGandists insist upon
seizing upon an occasion of national
peril and alarm to force their views
upon Congress and the country.
Il repeat that the prohibition CAM
paign has no place in our affairs OF
today. Pending legislation-the food
bill for instance-meets every de-
mand OF war time for sobriety. The
President is to be given authority to
estop the manufacture and sale OF
whiskey and to limit the production
of light wines and beers. This should
meet war time conditions without
throwing the country into a furore
over the adoption of a Constitutional
amendment forever prohibiting the
manufacture OF even beer and light
wines in this country.
Il know there are millions of
Americans today who drink their
glass or Two OF beer or light wine ana
are no worse off for it-either as
wage earners or citizens. To deprive
these citizens Of that privilege with
out giving them an opportunity to
vote on the question is as unfair
as it is unnecessary.
III Congress must take up the pro-
hibition amendment, l submit there
is a distinction between whiskey and
a beverage like beer. That distInc-
ton should be drawn IL legislators
want to be fair"