The Glenwood post., 1917-05-05
COUNTRY DEMANDS
NATIONWIDE PROHIBITION

opportunity for nationwide prohibi-
tion to be declared than right now.
The situation is such that the sentiment
Of the American people would sustain
an order from the president or author
ity from congress to enforce prohibi-
tion in the entire United States. Ac-
cording to the department of agricul-
ture the grain crop for food purposes
is five hundred and fifty million bush
els short this year in the United States
alone. According to statistics, the dis
tilleries, and breweries consume ap-
proximately five hundred and twenty
five million bushels Of grain. The
foods listed are wheat, corn, oats and
barley. The distilley and brewery
grains are listed: corn, barley, oats
and wheat. According to the total
amount used in the manufacture Of iu-
toxicants, the food experts of the
world say that the shortage for this
year in food will amount to approx
mately thirty-three and one-third per
cent Of the total world supply. They
say also that by the first of next year
the civilized people of the world will
be eating barley bread with as much
relish as they now eat wheat bread.
If these reports are correct, tho
n nf H.,
ufacture of Intoxicating liquors in
America just about equals the shortage
in America grain food products.
England, France, Italy and Russia
tell us that they are thirty per cent
short in their food products and that
America must help them win the war
by reducing the amount of food con-
sumed in the United States and ship
ping the amount thus saved to those
countries. If the breweries and dis
tilleries are closed, the amount of food
that is thus saved can be shipped to
the ally governments and there will be
no greater shortage in America than
there would be if the distilleries and
breweries were allowed to operate.
Those who support war can only sup
port it on one theory: that in the end
it advances the moral and commercial
welfare of people; that it gives bet
ter government. That only through
the shedding of human blood and the
miseries attached to military cam
paign can people be brought to Il
realization of what must be done to
afford a great governmental freedom.
The claim is made, and justly so, that
the spirit of liberty was really born
during the revolutionary war. The
claim is made, and justly so, that the
civil war established new definition
of liberty the world over. The revo-
lutionary war and the civil war COM
bined, did not produce as much loss of
life, blood shedding and suffering as
the battle of Marne or the battle that
is now waging along the Hindenburg
line. Certaily by reason Of the in
creased amount of suffering that is &C.
companying the present war, the result
should mean tremendous forward step
in the moral advancement of the world
and in the unlocking of the political
and religious liberties of the whole
world.
Alraa11y h.,
sia, of England and of France has de-
manded that those nations as a people
stop the use of Intoxicating beverages.
Already they have felt that this should
be one of the great attainments that
should come from the scourge of the
conflict. By taking this position these
three nations have placed the question
of temperance among the first ques-
tions of great magnitude in the world.
Certainly Christian America cannot af-
ford to lag behind in this regard. If,
out of the vortex of the suffering in
Russia, should come nationwide tenn
perance as result of the war; if Eng
land in peering around for some great
governmental subject to announce and
II France with al Of her vineyards and
her thirst for strong drink has eonsid
cred that out of the war must come
prohibition for ehemseiTss, certainly
America, standing as she does a. the
greatest exponent of the truth OF
Christianity, must assume the same
position E'
If the present war should last a
twentieth Of century; If it should
reduce the American people to penury
and want, even as Belgium and Greece
have been reduced by the invading
armies Of Europe and If It should cost