The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-28
Absolute Prohibition or Quick
Ship Building
Which Is More Important at This Momentf

Which Is More Important at This MOmenti
Extreme fanatics of prohibition want test of their
strength" They about to have it.
They demanded first that the making of light wine and
beer should be forbddenwhch would have made whskey
the only drink obtainable in the country.
That would have been an excellent thing for whiskey
owners who raise their prices daily But bad thing Tor
the worker.
It was made clear that the President would not tolerate
the suggestion that the counys workers be put on wins
key basis Then the prohibition extremists included in their
program the stopping of whskey sales and the stopping Of
brewing and making light wine
They thought this thing could be done in the usual
good old way simply by saying to certain Senators and
Congressman You vote as we say or we shall put you out
of Congress"
The matter as events proved too important to be
disposed of in the usual way It involved the wishes hab
its and therefore the efficiency of workers whose product
important the nation than the peace of mind
Of prohibtonists.
These things happened Bainbridge Colby who repre-
President Wilson in the general problem of ship build
workers change their habits without warning and with
out their consent would be TO CUT DOWN THE PRO
DUCTIoN OF SHIPS TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT
Next day. Mr. Hurley practical man, head of the Ship
Board waned Congress that absolute prohibition enforced
would jeopardize the ship building program make the
workers discontinued, and cut down the output
Third came Mr. BurlesOn, Postmaster, speaking
individual not for the President in whose Cabinet he is
hard worker Mr. Bureson pointed out the fact that light
beer is the drink of the working class Right or wrong
they think themselves entitled to it they want it, mod
eratey use it, keep sober and do good Werk He pointed
ont this is not time to show too much patience with
fanaticm allow fanatics to make too many experiments
with workers
The situation as between extreme fanatics of prohib
ton and interest In the countrys welfare Is
as follows:
Congress decided prevent the further manufacture
of whiskey which is posonbut permitted the sale of
wskey already manufactured in order not to lose the
gigantic revenue of many hundreds of millions.
Congress said to the President, 1--WE have confidence
In judgment We authorize you to stop all further
NJ Iipbf md hoor
The President did not exercise the power of absolute
prohibition which would have made whiskey the only al
coholc drink available He cut down the alcoholic con-
tent Of beer to minimum making the beer weak to
be little different from water.
The President knew of without the telling by
Mr.. Colby Mr. Hurley or Mr. Burleson that it would be
unwse time for the nation depending the cheer
fuess of labor to treat the nations wormen like chill
dren and say great body of hard working sober
cat the end of a hard days work, building ships
working In the coal mines sweating In the blast furnaces
you shall drink only ice water because minority who
did days work in their lives think you ought not
to have beer"
The interesting question before the country this
Which will prevail the opinion Of those responsible
for the production ships the wishes of gentlemen who
make speciality of prohibition fanatcism, regardless OF
the countrys needs and of everything else?
is extraordinary that the Congress should enter
tain the proposition take such steps in the opinion OF
the best authorities would inevitably diminish seriously the
output of ships
Men are put jail and justly for merely expressing the
wish that something might interfere with this nations war
efficiency.
Men suspected of sympathy with Germany informed
for the period of the war and Justly hundred per cent
efficiency in the fight against Germany is the only thing
be considered
And weI-organized threatening highly moral prohi-
bon organization demands that its orders be obeyed by
Congress 1t told by the only who know all the facts
that to obey the prohibition order would be down the
output of ships twenty five per cent And the reply from the
prohibitiOnists is, NEVERTHELESS, ships ships
you shall do say We'll put you out of office.
The warning from well informed and certainly
sober temperate that prohibition will cut down ship
building twenty-five per cent.
France and England supply their workmen with beer
MADE WITH GRAIN FROM THE UNITED STATES.
Even Germany harassed alfstarved finds somehow or
other the grain brew beer and keep the women satisfied
What will the United States do?
Are shipmakers and miners and ironworers and long
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