Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-09
Prohibition and the Tropics
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin

Washington, D. C.. April 4.-What will be the
effect of trying to enforce absolute prohibition OF
alcoholic liquors upon people who regard drink
ing as no more immoral or deleterious than eat
ing? Likewise, what are the political ethics OF
such legislation?
To one travelling in the Caribbean possessions
of the United States at time when national pro-
hibition is looming large on the congressional
horizon these questions insistently suggest them
selves II is highly typical Of the colonial policy
of the American people that this is about the only
phase of the national prohibition question which
has not been fought all over the HELD Our IN
sular possessions occupy small space on the
map and still smaller one in the national con-
seriousness. The average citizen has to think
twice before he can remember where Porto Rico
is, and there is not one chance in hundred that
he could name the insular possessions OF the
United States. Yet these possessions are IN the
aggregate little empire.
Furthermore, our responsibilities in the south
ern seas seem to grow steadily. Within the last
months we have added three new Caribbean isl
ands to our domain by purchase from Denmark,
and have extended American citizenship to the
Porto Ricans In addition to this, we are keep
ing order in four small Caribbean republics
Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti and Nicaragua. Add
to this our interests on the other side of the
globe in Hawaii and the Philippines and you
realize that the scope of American influence in
the tropics is really large and growing.
The people of all these countries depend for
their political and economic well-being upon the
strength and good faith Of the United States and
they all cherish to some extent American ideals.
They have all heard about Lincoln and Washing
ton and liberty and equality and the land of the
free. But they do not quite grasp this idea OF
free land where you cannot take drink and they
do not see, further, why anyone should be pro-
hbited from taking drink
This is no argument either for or against pro-
hibtion, but simply an attempt to set forth the
viewpoint on this matter which prevails IN the
tropical possessions and interests OF the United
States and more especially in those OF the Carib-
bean. For the difference of viewpoint toward
this matter illustrates the fundamental differ
ence between the North American and what for
lack of better name might be called the Equa-
torial American. The term Latin-American
really is not nearly inclusive enough; in fact no one
word could convey an adequate idea OF the racial
completely of the tropical melting pot--of the
part that Hebrew and Irish blood have played in
the Virgin islands, for example, or the Turkish
strain in Haiti and Santo Domingo. These peo-
pie are almost as mixed in blood as we are, but
owing to the fact that men move along parallels
Of latitude they are really all from southern coun-
tries-mostly southern Europe, Africa and the
Orient.
The drinking places Of these tropical cities are
typical Of the spirit in which these people use
alcohol, for they abe cafes open to the street
Wnerc men anu WOHcN SIT d. ittiS tdDiSs dhu oiP,
and nod graciously to passing acquaintance on
the street. This drinking is wholly casual natural
and free from the consciousness of sin. The
spree" of the moral Yankee, who ensconces him
self behind the swinging door, rapidly swallows
large amount Of raw liquor, tells the story OF
his life to the barkeeper breaks a glass, goes to
sleep and is carted home in cab, is sport
which the immoral son Of the tropics cannot
comprehend.
In other ways, too the Equatorial American
is uneniightened. He has never seen any OF the
charts gotten out by temperance societies which
show the percentage OF epileptics among the Off
springs Of a hghball drinker, nor those wildly
co1ored pictures revealing the change of color and
size which the internal organs of the tippler
undergo.
For the tropical American, drinking does not
involve any moral question at all, and being be-
yond the cruising radius of the temperance lee
turer and the prohibition pamphlet he is bliss
fully ignorant OF the hygenic and economic
phases of the matter. Also, the making of rum is
an important industry in all the sugar cane coqn-
tries, so that some of these people-the planters
OF ST. Croix, for example-will suffer financial
loss if national prohibition becomes law.
It may, nevertheless, be that we can Amer
icanize our tropical possessions to our own point
of view. Thus, in Porto Rico, where there is
now great enthusiasm over the newly-acquired
| American citizenship, the prohibition clause OF
the organic act is being accepted in good spirit
| 1t is reported that in the town OF Caguas two
native barkeerers have taken the lecture platform
| for prohibition! And yet some folks doubt
| whether these people are capable OF becoming
| rea! Americans!