The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-19

If man makes a barrel of grape
juice--which the law as planned does
not forbid--and if he allows the
grape juice to stay in the barrel, 1T
will ferment and become wine.
A process almost as simple will
produce a poorly made kind of beer.
Farmers in Europe, as Is well known,
make their own beer. their own wine,
and their own whiskey or brandy.
The greatest enemy of whiskey,
as has been said, is thorough under
standing of it's character and effects.
All men instantly kill a snake when
they see it. The race has taught for
centuries that the serpent is venom
Gus, the enemy of mankind. 1t is de-
stroyed the moment it appears.
Whiskey has killed more men in the
United States, than snakes ever killed
in India.
Poisonous whiskey Furnishes the
victim that takes it and all near that
victim.
The whiskey drinker is tortured with
delirum, shaking nerves, aching
head
Poverty. cold and hunger curse
his children, as they drink water anu
look at him drinking whiskey.
/ Sorrow, lifelong, curses the unfor-
tunate wife, who dares not interfere
and who struggles against the enemy
nearly always uncomfortable.
This newspaper hopes for the rig
Id successful enforcement OF the law
which says that after next July whis-
key shall not be made or sold or
brought into this country.
The law limits the period OF pro
hibition for the term OF the war and
the period necessary for demobilizing
the army. And every man believes
that this means prohibition perma-
nently, even though the effort to IN
corporate absolute prohibition into
the constitution of the United States
should fail.
This newspaper in it's fight against
whiskey and drunkenness has adVo'
Gated the theory and advice of Thon-
as Jefferson, believing that while TO-
tai abstinence would be the ideal con-
dition, it would be difficult, perhaps
Impossible, to enforce 1t Legally,
whereas the elimination OF whlshey
without legal prohibition of the very
mild stimplants that other nations use
temporarily, might solve the prop
lem more simply. The nation mas ue'
cided, however, through congress. 10
make the experiment along the line
of absolute prohibition. CONSUMPTION
! of alcohol Is TO be forbidden absolute
Nv except in religious -hcraments
and by doctors prescripttons-two
most interesting exceptions TO the
student OF history.
Every good citizen Will co-~--7ate
with the government to the utmost
Nm the enforcement of the law. For
whiskey' is a hideous poison which
has cursed millions.
| And though the wisest possible leg
lislation may not have been devised
the people will hope for its success.
! If the country were cursed with 9
plague Of poisonous rattlesnakes, AND
] to be rid Of them it were necessary &c
lexterminate sheep and cattle and put
! the country on vegetarian OASIS
THAT certainly would be better than al
ilowine the ratlesnakes ii to continue
and to rule as whis ley has ruled.
/ whiskey at least is made illegal IN
the United States now and for all
/ time.
i The disgraceful partnership be
tween whiskey and government IS al
an end and will never be renewed.
F! AS a creator OF sickness. poverty
misery and dishonor, whiskey ceases
Its work the coming year-at least sc
far as the laws command can stop II
II is for the peoples vigilance to make
1.-The law effective.