Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-29
BRYAN FORESEES
RUNS HARD ROAD
Says Traffic in Alcoholic
Beverages Soon viii Be
CIassed as Crime.
HERE AS DINNER GUEST

tILttE no LfIeNIst 0S@Ss
The manufacture and sale OF alco-
holic liquor soon will be transferred
from "a business to a crime" accord
ing to William Jennings Bryan, former
Secretary of State, who is in Wash
ington for the day as the guest of
honor at a big luncheon given this
afternoon by the National Dry Fedora
ton at the Hotel La Fayette. Mr..
Bryan is president of the federation,
which was organized about year ago
and includes thirty-eight constituent
bodies. The affair was arranged to
celebrate the proclamation of the
ratification of the prohibition consti-
tutional amendment made at 1870 am.
'In the near future we shall deal
with individuals who are merely law
yiolators," said the former cabinet
officer to a reporter for The Star this
morning, because it will not be pos
sible to organize a national boot
leggers asst cation any more than
a national association OF pickpockets.
Prohibition Victory Complete.
1.-The prohibition victory is a very
complete one" he continued. more
SO than we had anticipated. Forty
two states have now ratified. although
but thirty-six were needed. Four
more are certain to ratify. leaving at
most two that may decline to ratify.
These two. however, probably eventu-
ally will fall into line. making a
unanimous nation back of the amend
ment, SO that all parties and all Sec
lions may share in the glory.
Supporters of the amendment have
no doubt as to its beneficial effects.
Alcohol is a poison Its destructive
effects are apparent to every one who
walks the streets of a wet city. Its
wrecks are the strongest indictments
against 1t. Even moderate drinking
shortens a mans life by reducing his
power to resist disease.
Work Ahead Is Explained
THE work now before us may be
divided into three parts. First is the
enforcement of the law. This will
prove less difficult year by year. We
will no longer have big brewers and
distillers' associations with large cap
ital claiming to be engaged in a
legitimate business and threatening
and who interfere. We cannot have
bootleggers' associations.
Second. the cultivation of a senti-
ment in favor of total abstinence. In
this moral support of the law the
churches will lead, and the drinking
of intoxicants will no longer be coun-
tenanced.
Third, the carrying of prohibition
var,v, fvalA f1A
experience to other lands. This is
doubly necessary. because some OF
the brew ere driven out of the United
States. are already beginning to To-
cate in Latin America and Europe.
1t is our duty to send certified copies
which they may go, in order that
other peoples may be warned. Hav-
ing adopted prohibition as a national
policy. we must communicate to the
word the results here that they may
initiate our example and protect
the greatest enemy of mankind. The
little republics springing up in
Europe will not make much progress
If, having exiled the kaiser, they put
a brewer on the throne. The liquor
traffic has no more respect for popu-
II these governments rest on the con-
sent of the governed it is necessary
that those governed be sober enough
to give an intelligent consent
Nations Flag Lifted High.
"our nations flag. representing de-
mocracy. is now lifted so high it can
be seen around the world. Today we
place just below it the white banner
OF prohibition. They will both confer
blessings on mankind"
VIII the legal talent Of the vets
make any breaks in the waltz Col
Bryan was asked.
mo. but they will make large In.
roads on the funds raised by ana for
the VETS" he replied. They seem
to think that 'pickings will be better
now than a few months ago on the
theory embodied in a story that is
new one to ma.
bridge to the effect that any one rescu-
Ing a drowning person would receive
IS, decided to obtain the money, one by
falling in and the other by doing the
lifesaver act The one elected to take
the plunge was going down for the
panion was preparing to make no ef-
fort to save him. He shouted to him
and received the nonchalant reply:
Since you jumped I've seen a second
sign that promises SO for the recovery
Of a dead body"
Contracts No Longer Binding"
You mention all the states; arc not
some legislatures pledged to oppose
ratificatio was a question put to Mr..
Bryan. He answered as follows:
Contracts made between politicians
and the liquor traffic are no longer
binding. The marriage contract, most
sacred Of all, is terminated by the death
Of either party. John Barleycorn being
dead. the politician is at liberty to con-
tract new alliance.
Rev. Charles Seaman, Host.
Rev. Charles Seaman, secretary of
the National Dry Federation, served
as host at today's luncheon, which
was attended by Secretary and Mrs.
Daniels and by number Of senators
and representatives, together with
their wives, who took prominent parts
in the fight for prohibition. There
were also present the heads of sew
eral of the most important govern
mental bureaus and representatives of
national churches the womep's
Christian Temperance Union and
other prohibition and temperance or
CARNATIONS. The federation's head.
quarters are in Pittsburgh, but the
luncheon was held here, as the most
lamation of ratification.
A handsome silver loving cup, suit
ably inscribed, was presented to M
ia. st4 Ia ~