The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-01-25
Editorial Baltimore Sun, Jan Is, 1919
PROHIBITION

Editorial Baltimore Sun, Jan Is, 1879
PROHIBITION.
1t is to be hoped that our legislators
at Annapolis, before acting upon any
of the prohibition measures introduced
at this season, will give serious thought
to the effect of their action and be in
fluenced neither by prejudice nor prepos-
session, but only by an honest and
patriotic desire to do what is best for
the State and the country.
THE SUN believes that neither the
ratification of the Federal amendment
nor the passage of Statewide
prohibition law is desirable at this
time. The prohibition question was
not an issue in the election which re-
suited in the selection of the men who
now represent the people at Annapolis.
They have no mandate from the people
on this question. The tremendous ma
iorites against Prohibition In Balti-
more city and Baltimore County at the
recent election make it at least very
doubtful whether the people as whole
would ratifv the amendment if it could
be submitted to the popular vote. And
even if a slight majority could be Sc
cured for it in the State as a Who'll ii
would be grievously worong to force
Prohibition upon community as large
as Baltimore city which has just shown
so strong a sentiment against it.
That is the objection to Statewide
Prohibition. And the objection to the
Federal amendment Is of the same
nature. Ii it is wrong for Maryland
to force prohibition upon Baltimore
against its will, it is wrong for any
combination of states to force prohibit
ton upon other states against their
| will. Such compulsion would stir up
i'll feeling. invite contt mpt for the law
and promote evasions Oft. We do not
| lay stress on the abstract doctrine of
states rights. a theory not much regard
| ed in these days, although once held 50
important in Maryland and the South.
But we do stress the inherent injustice
and the danger that lie in such pro-
posal.
If it is Objectionable in ordinary
| times, it is trebly so in these days of
| war. The great need today is nation
united in the work of winning the war.
| Anything that diyerts attention from
this work is bad. Anything that diverts
attention and also arouses bad feeliE g
is likely to be disastrous.
| 1t should be borne in mind by our
representatives at Annapolis that
neither of these measures is a war
emergency measure. The Federal
amendment, even if ratified, would not
become effective for several years.
Maryland alone could not enact pro
hibition measure that would be appre-
Gladly effective in conserving the Ma
tion's resources, even though the argu-
ment of the prohibitionists in this con-
nection be accepted as sound. Any
such legislation must come from Wash
ington. When president Wilson de-
mands prohibition during the war as a
war emergency the nat on will support
him in that demand. In the meantime
it must be recognized that much has
already been done in this direction,
and that even tefore the war temper
ance had for years been making great
strides an j evils Of intemperance were
being diminished every year. That
b ling the case. there is no crisis tina,
demands radical action or any other
than serious and calm tleasment of a
disputed question.