The Washington times., 1917-07-31


Badgered button-holed irritated and in some cases
politically blackmaled and frightened by the prohibition
ganzon the Senate has apparently decided to take action
Constitutional amendment for nation wide prohibition
We repeat that the power to change the Constitution
not intended to be used when simple police regulations
and State legislation would answer for the purpose.
However if the Senate is determined to this great
power in of this kind to be rid Of the opportunities
of prohibitionists, we urge this upon them
Legislate for REAL TEMPERANCE. The temperance
that prevails in France Italy Germany in all regions where
the inhabitants light wine light beer and do not
whiskey. Forbid-by Constitutional amendment if you
please although that is not necessary wiseforbd alb
solutely making selling possessing distilled spirits En-
courage the light wine and light beer draw sharp line be-
tween the you would between tobacco and morphine
Do not be bued out in your patience by prohibition
urging, however well meant sincere and ignorant
The Government of the United States fortunately has
about made up its mind say all citizens especially to
the tens of thousands of dunkards that lack ntegence
Matters shall be arranged so that you will get no more
whiskey.'
At this moment Congress is discussing the drink ques-
ton you believe that the suggestions made in this
editorial sound cut it out and send to of the SEN
aOrs from State telling him that this represents
views
This is the drink situation as it exists ALL OVER THE
WORLD
There MILD stmulants light wine and beer there
are alcoholic PoISoNS, wmskey gin, brandy, etc.
There mild narcotics tobacco the cigars cigarettes
There the poisonous and deadly narcotics opium,
morphine, cocaine.
Entire populations use tobacco temporarily and with
complete secOnro Populations individuals that the
poisonous narcotics doomed.
tain prohibition extremists would forbid the tobacco
One interesting military hero in New York State named
Organ issued order that soldier should smoke
on the street.
The common of the whole people however makes
clear that all the force of Government should be used to
suppress making selling and using poisonous narcotics
while the use of tobacco comparatively not absolutely
harmless, should be permitted and encouraged
Experience proves that you forbid the open legal use
OF tobacco some harmful drug easily concealed would
be used secretly Thousands of for instance become
drug fends in prison when smoking is not allowed
What is true of dangerous narcotics and the tobacco
used temporarily used nearly always is equally and liter
ally true Of the alcoholic poisons and the light wine and
beer that generally used temporarily and harmlesy
where whiskey and the other poisons are not drunk
country should egsate the subject of alcoholic
stmuans precisely as it egsates the narcotics for
blddng the posons that form drug habit permitting the
mild tobacco.
Whskey, gin and brandy, and ALL DISTILLED
SPIRITS SHOULD BE FORBIDDEN ABSOLUTELY
They the poisOns that cause alcoholism deum tremens
chronic drunkenness and all the ills that follow in the train
OF drunkenness run poverty, crime, insanity
than four per cent of alcohol light Wines drunk diluted
with water, with maximum of fourteen per cent alcohol
and heavy additional tax all wine containing an alco
hohc percentage above ten per cent SHOULD BE PER
MITTED.
A maximum high as fourteen per cent is suggested
because many great vineyards produce grape that will
not yield wine of less than fourteen per cent of alcohol
But this should be taxed heavily than the lighter wines
WITHIN reasonable number OF years. allowing for the plant
ing OF lighter grapes of vineyards lighter SOIL the
maximum alcoholic strength should be fixed rgdy at ten
per cent.
Tens of millions of human beings in Italy and other
tens of millions in France, drink light wines temporarily
every day Of their lives from childhood to old age and do
not know what drunkenness means.
Tens of millions in Germany drink light beer all their
lives and do suffer from drink nefciency Nine hum
dred and ninety out of thousand soldiers in the German
army drink beer-and the government supplies it-and
their record does not show that they drunk or inefficient
Where there is drunkenness in Italy it is caused bv
Italians that return from America, HAVING ACQUIRED
THE WHISKEY HABIT HERE.
Where drunkenness exists in France is due to criminal
legislation for which the fool Napoleon III was responsible
permitting residents in Northern France where they have
Tapes and red wine, to manufacture their own vile
z, brandy applejack in their own houses to the
so many gallons year.
re is no drunkenness in the wneproWing wilma