Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-07-12
sATVRDAY..........JULY u. 1911!
PLAYING WITH FIRE.

Some political critics in both parties
express the opinion that democratic
leaders have "set a trap" for repub-
lcans which will bite hard in the
coming campaign next year.
President Wilson recommended that
congress set aside prohibition. so far
as mild beer and wine were concerned,
for the period prior to enforcement
of the amendment to the constitution,
at the beginning of 1920. Prohibition
enacted by congress for the period of
the war was left to the discretion OF
the president. 1t was made effective
by his order. until rehabilitation is
finished.
Claiming not to have the power to
set aside the order and that demoblli'
cation had proceeded far enough te
make enforcement not needed, he
passed the buck to the republican
congress.
He had been advised from Wash
ington that the measure was unpopu-
lar, especially with returning soldiers
and organized labor which later, at
a conference of the American Fed
Grafton, asked for modification.
An organized demonstration, fur
thered probably by brewing interests,
was made at the capital. but the re-
publican committees of congress We're
not intimidated in the slightest de-
gree,
They willingly accepted the chal-
lenge of opponents of uninterrupted
prohibition.
While war time prohibition was
enacted as a rider to the agricultural
appropriation bill, for the ostensible
purpose of conserving grain and other
food material, it's real purpose was to
protect young soldiers from the liquor
traffic and habits that interfered
with efficiency. incidentally, also, for
the welfare of the whole country.
AS q compromise the act was de-
ferred as to enforcement to July l.
1t so happened that before that date
war activities unexpectedly ceased.
1t should be remembered that the
act was passed by a democratic con-
gress. with the same element now in
opposition to its enforcement unwill-
ing to support the measure, 1t was
southern members Of congress who
forced the rider.
But the south had led in becoming
q dry region. 1t is still the solid
south, but it is just as irrevocably
the dry south. In the western states
prohibition was generally aided II
not accomplished by the ballots of
women But in the south the aid of
women without ballots brought re-
striction,
For several years. excepting Cali
fornia, where grape growers pre-
vented prohibition, nearly all tie
country from the Pacific coast to the
Mississippi river has been a block Of
prohibition states
In none of this area has there been
reaction. On the contrary the big
cities of these states have found pro-
hibition helpful instead of a drag on
business and general prosperity. No
organization or movement whatever
from labor or any political party is
even proposed to secure modification
of the present law.
The agitation for the wine traffic is
confined to California. The hurrah
about the need of beer is limited to
big cities, where commercial interests
and brewers claim disaster will result
by destruction of local interests and
investments and discharge of laborers.
Much ado is made of the supposed
resentment of soldiers that they had
no vote in bringing aboKt prohibition,
and of their anger at Being deprived
of drink. There can be very little
fear about soldiers. They are just
average Americans, not confirmed in
drinking habits. and sensible enough
to take things as they come.
The same is true Of laborers the
country over. In eastern centers,
especially where a foreign element
makes the most noise there has been
preconcerted roar. But even if
drinkers continue to thirst. the great
majority of persons will easily ac-
custom themselves to abstinence. That
men who quit drinking now because
of the law shutting off supplies win
carry resentment into political cam
paign next year is not probable
though the democratic leaders may
seek to stir up anti-prohibition anger.
But such an issue is loaded There
are many thousands of democrats
who condemn President Wilson for