Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-30

turned to the pursuits OF peace. Yet In us I'M
mediate effect and application it is founded up
on a ~pretense of actual and existing war neces-
sity. The annals of legislation disclose few in
stances of more shameful abuse of legislative
power.
ITO describe how frequently and how fla
1 gravity this measure violates long-estab-
lished American principles and long -eherished
American tradition would require much space.
1t is perhaps sufficient to indicate the ease with
which trial by jury of persons accused under its
provisions can be avoided; how summary pro-
ceedings before and punishment by judges can
be substituted for the customary processes Of
law; how indirect or passive infringement Of
the statute can be penalized; how the prop
erty of the one who is unable to prove his ig-
norance Of the illegal use of his holdings by
another can be taken away and sold; how the
guilt Of a person having possession of liquor of
any kind is presumed, instead of his innocence,
and how the burden of proof is upon him rather
than upon his aceuser; how the person living
In one sort of an establishment can escape
search and seizure, while his neighbor, living
in another sort of dwelling, is subject to inva-
sion; how an army of Federal agents, at a cost
of millions of dollars, is created for enforce
ment purposes; how onerous regulations gov
ern the prescribing of liquor by physicians, and
how the quantities that may be prescribed are
arbitrarily limited.
--ru
THE law describes as intoxicating liquor any bey-
L erage containing as much as half Of one Der
cent. of alcohol by volume. This is contrary to the
TACT, for drinks containing seven times that amount
OF alcohol are known to be nonintoxicating. Recent
analyses by distinguished experts show that a very
large number Of the root beers, fruit syrups. pro.
prletary beverages and others, all in the category
OF and universally recognized as "soft drinks and
all purchased in the open market, contain more than
half OF one per cent. of alcohol. 1t is well known that
hqUds made OF fruits or containing sugar can scarce
~ be kept from developing more than this quantity
of alcohol unless harmful preservatives are used.
THE PRODUCTION Of Notwithstanding cider
l. and fruit juices at home is permitted bv the
Volstead Act. Nothing is said as to how these nrod-
ucts are TO be Kept from fermenting. This is obyi-
ously a sop to the farmer, who could be exnectad r.
arise in wrath if his hard cider or homemade wino
should be interfered with. But the farmer is not
given to brewing beer at home. and the citv dwollor
who attempts experiments along this line NAV exnact
to find himself under surveillance
HE Eighteenth Amendment contains a cIause de.
ferrlng It's operation until a year after the date
OF Its ratification. This was agreed upon in order to
allow manufacturers and dealers a reasonable time
IN which to hquidate their business and wind Nm
their affairs. The Volstead Act, in continuing war
prohibition at this time, clearly violates the pledge
neld out by the amendment. Hence to its MANY other
inquiries must be added a deliberate and calculated
preach OF faith. 1t is thus that prohibition is intro
dueed to the American people.
UNITED STATES BREWERS