The Washington times., 1918-10-09
A Letter From a Lady and
An Answer
Z Prohibition Wonld Be Ideal-BUT
An Answer
Prohibition Would Be Ideal-BUT

lady who reads The Washington Times sends a
letter, quoted IN part
141O Girard Street N W.,
Washington, D. C., Sept. 20, 1918
Mr. Arthur Brisbane
Editor and Owner of The Washington Times
Washington D. c.
Having been subscriber to your daily newspaper,
The Washington Times for several months, and having
been deeply interested in your words ideas and manner
of presenting them beg that may earnestly assure
lyon that everything that you have written has not
ony been of the highest patriotism but OF that quality
that quickens the same in others hearts You have,
quote of your friends Seemed to say just what
we thought"
= Lam sorry, Mr. Brisbane that did not write to you
some time ago wanted to do so to congratulate you
upon the thoroughly educational and informing policy
of your personal writings or editorials Then too,
wanted most kindly and to ask you why you
believed in temperance rather than prohibition. Lit
tie did think that this same question was to be source
of bitter attack against you want to assure you that
will not believe that you in any manner proGer
man. but do sincerely and earnestly urge that you dis
connect yourself and writings from the temperance
polcy-indeed Mr.: Brisbane, it IS dead issue.
"(signed) MARGARET cRoToN
"(Mrs. r. Washington Croton)"
The Washington Times under its present ownership,
having been in every cartoon article paragraph hne and
word bitterly anti thar other paper in the
United States it is indeed quite safe to that it is not
pro- German" The average Intelligent American under
stands that is not necessary to be in order to
share Thomas Jeersons belief that the solution of the
American drinking problem will be found in the abolition Of
the whskey traffic and the encouragement of the light beer
and light wine that Jefferson advocated Here's
to the lady who writes the friendly letter that you have read
Prohibition if it were possible would be an ideal solu
on Of the drink question but do not believe it to be pos
sble change mems habits overnight by legislation
It is wise to prohibit dangerous drugs while permitting
tobacco you also took away the tobacco, you would
drive men to the drugs
1t would be wise to prohibit whskey gin and the other
vile alcoholic poisons and allow workmen to the light
wines and beer that many nations take temperate with
out injury believe that the experiment that the nation
is about to make in prohibition will drive many to
ictly made whiskey and to drugs. Time will dispose
Of that question The experiment in absolute prohibition
is to be made, and experience will teach
What say here is what have written and published
constantly for twenty years And in my writings have
only echoed the opinion of Thomas Jefferson who certainly
knew the American people lived in day when the
ona drink whskey when to the of the people
said in his letter to Charles Yancey whiskey killed
third of the population and ruined their families
believe that after few years of experimenting with
absolute prohibition the Government of the United States
enlightened by its own experiment will urge and perhaps
finance the rehabilitation of the breweres and of the vine
yards that have done much to diminish drunkenness in
this country and that now hearedy destroyed in
obedience to the dictates of misguided fanaticism by leg
sators many of whom know better and in their hearts
condemn as unwise the laws that are enacted.
The following incident among many confirms my belief
that legislators have been coerced into voting against
their judgment:
With Mr. Charles Nicholson, the Washington CORE
spondent of the New York World called upon of the
most important in Congress to urge upon him. have
urged upon many Others my view of the temperance
tion.
He said to me, in Mr.. Michelsons presence
"Mr. Brisbane, know that you right, I know
that light wines and beer would solve the temperance
ton And know that if nothing but light wine and beer
sold in the United States there would not be proh
bition State in the Union and there would be need of
any. But do not dare say wish you would call on
Mr Dnwidde of the Anti Saloon League in Washington
and you cannot persuade him to take
view of the situation
The Congressman to whom Mr. Nicholson and I talked
of the most important in the drafting of leg
islation for absolute prohibition.
I did call upon Mr. Dinwiddie this statesman re-
quested Mr. Dnwidde perfectly sincere assured me that