Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-24
WHY NOT?

At stormy caucus Of the democrat
ic members Of the national house Of
representatives Thursday. n proposal
to make national prohibition part Of
the war program was endorsed by q
vote Of 81 to 60.
! While this is not at all an indication
! that congress will add the issue to the
! administrations list Of war measures,
1t is important and significant.
Peace was restored in the caucus
only when Majority Leader kitchin
withdrew his proposal for a detailed
program and substituted general res
olution providing for action by the
democratic members in strict accord
ance with the presidents wishes.
This puts it up to the executive. He
is known to have considered nation
wide suspension of the manufacture
and sale of liquors as one OF his war
measures. Some Of the cabinet menl-
bers favor it, and the opinion is preva-
lent in Washington official circles that
the president has the power to enforce
the order if he desires.
There seems to be little ground for
argument against such course, except
the single objection which always is
brought forward when prohibition is
proposed-the fact that the liquor traf-
f1c DAYS special taxes which, OF course,
would cease with the traffic.
From the standpoint Of increased ef-
fciency. both military and Industrial.
| 1t is useless to argue for continuation
of the distribution of intoxicants. Not
even the most ardent opponents of pro-
hibition deny that whisky reduces its
! users efficiency, save as nuisance.
Russia banished booze at the open.
ing Of the war and although the rich
abused the special privileges that
we're granted in some cases, the COM
mon people were. beyond question.
i benefited by the restriction. Perhaps
| il would be idle to say the revolution
which upset the reign of the Roman.
offs was attributable to the new-found
confidence Of the masses as I. result OF
their enforced abstemiousness. But 1t
| would be no less idle to say their so
briefly did not strengthen them In the
crisis which, almost before they real.
lied It. became a wonderful triumph
| for democracy.
Sensible men. when they approach
events of importance. abstain from
| LIQUOR. Even those who are accus.
toned to its frequent use eschew It
when important business transactions
are pending.
Why, then. should not the nation.
facing crisis which affects its future
and the fate Of humanity. clear away
;: the fumes of liquor from its composite
/ brain and cling to the determination
of the great international problems the
calm, unhampered Judgment Of sobrt.
ETY.?
RECRUITING MONEY, TOO.
| America must enlist its wealth as
we'll as its manhood" is the conclusion
reached in a booklet tust issued by a
large New York trust company, discus
sing the $1,000, 100000 war loan.
The book emphasizes, as the duty of
every citizen. the necessity of mobil-
izing the nations financial resources
The American people are not educat-
ed to the purchase Of government Sc
curities as are the people OF other
countries In the United States not
one person in 500 owns a government
bond. In France and England eleven
persons in every 100 have helped to
! finance their countries in the present
struggle.
The issue which congress has just
authorized will call for investment by
~. 4.