The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1918-11-29


organization of a world movement
against the liquor traffic was held al
Columbus, Ohio, commencing on the
10Th and ending on the 22d of No
vcmber. The conference was attend
ed by delegates from all parts of the
United States and from many foreign
countries. Five years ago, at Colum'
bus, Ohio, the anti-saloon forces Of
the nation met and made plans tc
drive the liquor traffic from the
United States by 1920. The accom-
? plishment of this purpose was assured
by the elections held on November 5
Just preceding the conference foi
worldwide Prohibition. 1t was
therefore, a band of workers filled
with enthusiasm over the recent ma
tional victory that met to make plan;
for worldwide fight against alcohol
By happy coincidence the news that
the President had signed the war Pro
hibition bill came during one of the
sessions of the worldwide Prohibition
conference.
Gathered together there were the
nations leaders in the Prohibition
movement, who had made war Pro.
hibition possible. The news came in
dramatic fashion. A newsboy, unex.
accted and unannounced, marched
own the aisle to the speakers plat
form and, holding up a copy.sof his
paper, shouted, President Wilson
signed the war prohibition bill" In
sstantly all other business stepped
while the audience shouted and cheer
ed for war Prohibition and President
Wilson. Then after the news dis
patch was read by the chairman, all
Joined in singing, Praise God from
Whom All Blessings Flow"
Conference is Timely
In addition to recent Prohibition
victories, the ending of the war made
the conference for international Pro-
hibition very timely.
The program of the conference
dealt largely with the problem of ex-
tending the Prohibition movement to
other nations. Various phases of the
problem OF Prohibition in America
were also considered by the greatest
leaders, orators and statesmen who
have been active in the Prohibition
reform. Delegates from foreign
countries discussed the problem from
the viewpoint of their own countries
and appealed to America for coop.
Grafton in the fight against liquor in
their own lands.
Important Facts Developed
The following are some of the most
important facts brought out during
the conference:
1. The fight against the liquor traf-
fc in the United States is not yet
over.
2. The greatest thing that this
country can do for worldwide Pro-
hibition is to make Prohibition in this
country completely successful.
3. The psychological moment has
arrived for the launching. of world
wide drive against alcohol.
4. The world needs Prohibition
during the coming period of recon-
struction.
s. Other nations will listen to the
United States now on the Prohibition
question because of the part this
country played during the war.
= Great Victory Meeting
The opening session of the confer
ence on the evening of November 19
was ratification and thanksgiving
meeting. Leaders from various states
gave brief addresses, referring chiefly
to ratification prospects. On the sec
ond day of the conference General
Superintendent P. A. Baker outlined
the progress of the Anti-Saloon
League during the last 25 years.
Prohibition and the War
Referring to the important part
played by Prohibition in the winning
OF tho war, DR.. Baker said: "Does any
one doubt, in the light of the imme-
date past, that If there had not been
strong, virile, Prohibition move
inent to combat the propaganda of
the Gerran-American Alliance, that
america Mould have been sufficiently
Iermanized to have kept us out of the
wari"