Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-20
TIME FOR NEW JERSEY TO ACT

TIME FOR NEW JERSEY TO ACT
1t isn't often that the EVENING NEWS finds itself in accord wi
William Randolph Hearst. His attitude in regard to the war h
caused thousands Of loyal patriots to loathe the mention Of his nan
Yet all will admit that Mr.. Hearst, with his numerous publication
many Of them having The greatest circulation in their respective feC
Yields enormous influence. Therefore what Mr.. Hearst says has g
10 be given consideration, whether one agrees with him or not.
But in the matter Of the prohibition amendment, which has ju
been ratified by thrty-cight of the fortycight states of the Unio
thereby making it a part of the federal constitution, the EVENIN
NEWS is in hearty accord with Mr.. Hearst. In his New York Amer
can on Saturday, and over his signature, Mr.. Hearst said:
"By the ratification of the prohibition amendment to the
Federal Constitution one hundred per cent. of efficiency has
been added at one stroke to the people of America.
"And by the same stroke half of the misery and half of
the poverty of the people of America have been abolished.
''Three hundred thousand saloons have been eliminated
three hundred thousand mantraps have been closed, into
which a considerable portion of the youth of the country fell
every year-fen TO degradation and to vice and to crlme.
''Three hundred thousands ambuscades have been de
stroyed from which the forces of evil have been wont TO issue
in secrecy to overcome the happiness Of homes and to attack
the religion, the education, the morality and the prosperity OF
the community.
war has killed.
'strong drink has destroyed more every year than the
great war has destroyed.
"And the continuance of strong drink would be as if the
great war had been pcrpetuated forever to kill and mann
,e physically and mentally; forever TO destroy the works of
Of Epnan and the potential forces for achievement in man forever
,T,sngfy to interfere with progress and prosperity and enlightenment
'P and development hot wholly to prevent advancement, but
always to hinder and hamper it to strike down many Of those
best fitted to create it, to dwarf the greatest possibility Of
civilized development and to make it fail of its greatest
growth and fullest fruition.
"a heavy and oyerbearing burden has been lifted from
the back of humanity, and mankind is able to stretch its
limbs with a new freedom, fill it. lungs with a purer air. feel
its heart throb with a new energy and its brain thrill with a
clearer thought, a higher purpose.
"Did the great wal destroy the drink evil?
"f so, the great war conferred the greatest benefaction
Of all ages.
but the drink evil was not destroyed by the great war,
but the growing, &~g standing conscience of mankind;
BY s IN THIa tots rneaoral legislation as well as political and
economic legislation: by the disposition OF the ethical and IN
telleetual forces of the country to take a closer care of the vel
fare of their less favored fellows.
1.-The great war merely brought to a elimination this
higher development.
row; but suffering often refnes our thoughts and eievates
our ideals.
and conservation to a noble cause, lifted the character and
conscience of IN people and made the evil of drink more
wildly seen, more deeply detcsted.
"The suppression of the drink traffic is an evidence and
expression of the higher morality of the new era upon which
we are entering. and ii is the cIearcst indication as well as
the strongest guaranty of the better conditions which tins
new era will afford TO mankind
As state after state lines mp for the ratification of this amen
ment it is to be hoped that New Jersey will not be left alone as tn
only hooze state in the Union. The Republicans in the legislator
with the exception of the five asscmblymcn from Tassaic county, al
practically pledged to ratification. 1t is understood That enough Den
oerats can be found favorable to the amendment to come within on
vote of passing it. Surely, in view of the fact that the amendmel
already has been adopted, it ought to be possible to get this one vot
or several of them to put New Jersey in the list of the forwardlookin
progressive states on this great issue.
The Democratic platform last year favored a referendum vote
the subject. But a referendum is too late now. The people do NJ
want to vote on something that is already settled, let alone pay the e
pense of a referendum election that would be useless. The om
thing for the legislature to do now is to ratify the amendment so th
Jerseymen will not be looked upon as outeasts and slaves of the fQuC
interests wherever they go.
At least, let the question be brought up at this session of the les
isature and let us have every Legislators record. The people wal
to know who the legislators are who persist in keeping New Jersey
disrepute among her sister states.