New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-30
Misdirected c.

mISQITcCtCO ~,
We had supposed that thu food control
hill was a war measure and that military
necessities alone dictated :he regulation OF
production, distribution and consumption
which it seeks to impose. We regret 70
learn from a series Of agitated editorials
VOW appearing in "The World" that this IS
not the case. Our neighbor holds that be-
hind the ostensible purpose OF the Dill 10
establish a food regimen suitable TO war
times there turks another very outrageous
and sinister purpose.
The bill involves, according TO Inc
World" an assault upon personal I'D
ertv." an acceptance by wholesale OF 'he
PRINCIPLES of sumptuary legislation. IL
would inlict upon the populous ana I'D
oral North the tyrannous edict of self
STYLED mcralists." Getting still nearer 10
the nub Of the matter, we find that, IN
"Tbe Worlds" view, the enactment OF
certain provisions now IN the measure
would be the signal FOR the disruption OF
the Democratic party.
This is highly interesting. J. 's been
charged from time TO ti'n me iFHo-
cratic organizations m any Nor'cerh
States are closely asso"'a ."j with the
,cuor interests hat the politicians IN
control of Democratic state and local ma
chimes have always been exceedingly SEN
sitive to the influence OF the distlllers' the
brewers and the retail Liquor dealers. Yet
The confession mas never before been open
~ made t..at he Northern Democracy
would consider southern support OF even 2
martial embargo on the liquor business ior
Tho term of the war ample cause for
rnnture with the Southern Democracy
Here apparently is where the liquor
trade suspension provisions which the Dill
carries pinch hardest. Some weeks ago IN
tho selective CONSUMPTION bill prohlbi-
t;on for the period of the war was imposed
nm the military and naval forces OF the
limited States. The President was author
;1od n make any regulations he might
deem II advisable to make to prevent the
use Of alcoholic liquors by officers or en-
listed men. Selling any kind OF alcchohc
LIQUOR to any member of the military
forces. while in uniform, was made mis-
dsreanor. The 100000, 40OO,0OO or
100000 men whom we expect to SEND 10
war were subjected to "bone-dry pro-
hibition.
Did 1.-THE World" protest against tha'
assault upon personal liberty" that
"tvrannical edict" inflicted on the fewer
Of our citizenship? Did it rush to the res
cue of threatened personal privilege? Dld
II occur to our neighbor then that the
same argument Of military exigency might
soon be utilized to restrict the use OF aico-
bolic liquors by civilians and to lay an en-
barge on their sale and manufacture! IL
ia only now. when it seems that the Demo.
cratic. party cannot survive even par'ia
suspension of the liquor traffic, that oui
ears are filled with lamentations over the
strangulation of personal liberty"
n In the prosecution of the war no con
y Germ should be wasted on so small thine
as the perpetuation of any political party
We are living in time Of sacrlfce. We
are sending men to the trenches whethei
they want to 90 or not. We take away th'
soldiers personal liberty as user OF al
coholic liquors. If the nation Will beneh
from il. every stay-at-home's personal hb
erty in that respect may be taken away
with equal justification. 1t is not a ques
tion of morals, or Of politics-least OF al
Of cheap party politics. 1t is question Of
. military expediency-of national safety
No one has right nowadays'to put per
sonal interest above the national interest
The question Of suspending the produc'
ton. sale and consumption Of liquors-in
mart or in whole-is one that should be lett
IN the Executive, as far as possible. Inc
President should have power TO 90 as Tar
az he thinks il wise 10 go, basng his Judg-
mont on the facts Of the war situation.
There is no issue here of prohibition
IN the ante-war sense Of the word. There
;s nothing TO be hysterical about, either
The country certainly will refuse to get
bvsterical over "The Worlds discovery
that a war embargo on liquor traffic-llm-
tied or unlimited-is going to split the
democracy, as the notwithstanding
6yht split it in 1860. Let us do whatever
is needed TO win the war and quit bother
ing about party funerals.