Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-25
"BOOZE" IN IT'S TUMBREL

DOOAL IN Alo CiDlNLAL
THERE is no great love for booze" in
Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The
greater part Of the State is dry by pref.
srence. It is notorious that within the
city the vehicle of electoral commerce is
the low saloon, the graveyard of aspira.
tion and ambition and the nursery of
tragedies. To do abnormal things most
men must be abnormally excited. In
the intoxication Of battle induced by the
rolling Of the drums and the thunder of
the guns, men lovingly grapple with
death for the glory and safety Of their
country Booze" furnishes abnormal eX
citement, but 1t is not an intoxication
fruitful OF patriotism. It excites, instead
the animal instincts and elevates the
brute to supremacy in the personal
cosmos. It drives men not against a
common enemy, but against the innocent
II lures them to crime and they become
easy dupes in the betrayal of the insti.
tutions which their votes and their en-.
deavors ought to support, and probably
would support in normal circumstances.
without the booze" shops organized
political criminality would wither up in
Philadelphia within a decade.
But there is a vast difference between
the system labeled booze" and the use
by the human race Of light wines and
beer under scientific regulations. We
can we'll doubt the wisdom of abolshing
traffic in these beverages by national
enactment, without reference of the
question to the people The London
Times announced on Saturday:
The Government has decided to allow
an Immediate increase in the output Of
beer. The barrelage already sanctioned
for the summer term is to be increased
80 l-S per cent, and provision is to be
made for brewing light beer in place Of
the heavy beer now brewed. This may
raise the increased output to something
like 80 per cent
This decision on the part of the British
Government followed the discovery that
its reduction Of authorized barrelage had
been entirely too drastic and that some
concession to the public was imperative
The American people are ready to make
any necessary sacrifices to win the war
They are not enthusiastic about works
Of supererogation. It is not good policy
TO induce dissatisfaction with living con.
ditions among thousands Of skilled work
men, who are sober and Industrious even If
they do Ike their mugs Of beer. Tobacco
In the trenches has been a godsend to the
troops. The Americans now with Pershing
In Paris were enthusiastic when put on
French ratlons, which include a small
quantity Of light wine. VIII they be
more efficient and more contented than
their brothers in arms if they find that
their trenches are a Sahara between
cases which they cannot reach? The
enormous psychological strain at the
front demands relaxation for fighting
men, and that is why the Y. NJ. c. A. is
asking for millions With which to pur.
chase talking machines, magazines, etc.
for the use Of the troops off duty.
The Barley amendment to the food
control bill nrohibiting manufacture Of
alcoholic beverages, is mandatory: the
Webb amendment authorizes the Presi-
dent, at his discretion, to seize all stocks
OF alcoholic beverages. II is a power
which the President might use to control
prices, but would scarcely enforce at
once otherwise. The mandatory provis.
ion, when considered in the Senate. should
be rewritten TO apply to spirituous liquors
only. Its effect otherwise will be to null
tiply enemies OF the food-control bill. to
render enforcement OF the latter more
diflcult and arouse resentment among
thousands OF perfectly good citizens. A
sensible policy at this time is a wise
policy, and we submit that it is not good
judgment but fanaticism which under
takes to burden the food bill with an un.
necessary prohibition that is certain to be
disastrous in its application.