The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-01-26
M;gl.tyl:R Boost For III.
ProhibitioH ~ w

THERE will be no disposition anywhere and
= there should be least of all in the liquor trade
70 minimize the tremendous importance of two
events during the present week having direct bear
ing upon the movement for the prohibition Of the
manufacture, sale and use of Intoxicating liquors
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger. The first, oil
course, was the sweeping decision of the Supreme
Court Of the United States sustaining the Webb
Kenyon law prohibiting the shipments of liquor
into States which have already banned the trade
And the second was the adoption by the United
States senate, by the Unexpectedly large vote OF
ffty-hye for to thrty-one against, of the bill pro-
hibiting the liquor traffic in the District of Column
5ia. The practical certainty that the house will
concur in this action will add another important
unit to the "dry" territory, and this without any
action on the part of the residents of the District
1t Is perhaps to be regretted that the amendment
to the pending bill providing for referendum was
defeated, whatever may have been the motives of
its author, or how well grounded the suspicion
that its purpose was obstructive. For some of
the strongest advocates of the ultimate Punishment
of the drink evil are yet to be convinced that the
passage of prohibitive laws too far in advance of
an overwhelming support from public opinion is
not productive of evils almost if not quite as seri
GUS as those which prohibition is intended to COM
bat e,
By sustaining the Webb-Kenyon law the SUI
preme Court has not only put teeth" in existing
state enactments but it has opened floor for con
gressional action which is destined to be mighty
boost for the prohibition cause. 1t has certainly
put an end to whole catalogue of adroit evasions
by which prohibitory laws in some of the States
were to great extent nulliied But, far more inn
portant even than this, the ruling makes it clear
that the commerce clause of the Constitution is so
wide in its application that should congress elect
to prohibit altogether shipments of liquor in inter-
state commerce its action would be sustained by
the Supreme Court. The effect of this would be
to localize the traffic in liquor wholly in the States
which still permit it to exist. '.. '..."".
Vast as are the evils growing out of the drink
habit, and commendable as are the efforts to COM
bat those terrible evils it is not the part of prudent
craftsmanship to ignore the difficulties in the way
nor to overlook the possibility that prohibition
in advance Of popular consent will breed evils Of
momentous import, Of course, the answer to this
will be that society must prepare to meet new ST.
tuations as they arise and this is true. But it is
also true that the surest and most permanent pro-
gress is not that which is made too hastily Friends
OF prohibition have made progress at an amazing
pace in recent months. Would it not be the part
Of prudence for them to ask themselves whether
they may not be going to fast, and whether the
ground has been sufficiently prepared for the new
positions they are SO joyfully occupying? Their
cause reflects the highest aspirations of civiliza
ton, and their ultimate success cannot be mat
ter of serious doubt but is their preparedness COM
plete? l.Aa .atr, ~" q. ~. ~. 49,.