The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-03-14

the offending papers. The following
Certain great papers opposed pro-
hibition. That was their right.
They may have been honest in this
| opposition. concede that. The
time for argument, however, on war
time Prohibition and on the consti-
tutional amendment is past. They
were both adopted. One is the law
and the other is part of the SUI
preme law of the land. The issue
now is. not Prohibition, but the en-
forcemcnt of law. That is vital to
the very life OF the Republic There
is no room now for difference OF
opinion on this issue. One is for
law enforcement or ono is against it
These papers are for enforcement or
they are against it; they are for law
or they are for anarchy; they are
American or they are un-American.
What arc they? By their words and
their acts they are dehers OF law;
breeders of revolution; teachers of
Bolshevism, un-Amercanism and un-
patriotism. They do not urge and
they have not urged laws enforce
ment. On the contrary, they incite
and encourage resistance to it.
The New York World is a great
paper. 1t is doubtless a patriotic pa
per even il it does show its patriot
ism i'll a most peculiar way. 1t con-
dennis Bolshevism and pro-German-
ism with great vigor. 1t viciously at
tackled as traitors those who did not
follow the course it mapped ont as
patriotic prior to the war, and yet,
while the war was going on. 1t joine d
with the ultra pro-Germans and
proven disloyal German-American Al
lance in fighting Prohibition. 1t had
the right 10 oppose Prohibition be-
fore the verdict was rendered. 1t
could do so and still be patriotic 1t
has not ceased its intolerant oppc 81
ton, however. 1t continues this fight
now. Its columns are used not to up
hold but to discredit the constitution
and bring tic laws Of the land into
contempt. This is uhpatiiotic, dan
gerous to the republic, an-American
and the worst kind of Belshevism.
New York World Quoted
On January 10. the day the amend
ment was ratified, the World said in
an editorial, Revolution by Amend
mcnt;"
AS the liquor traffic like all other
social affairs, falls properly under the
power, the proposed amendment will
embody in the national constitution a
principle in conflict with the basic the
CRY of our federal system. 1t is. d
most emphatic denial OF local SILT
government. One important result of
such departure, amounting to rcVo-
luton, will be the enforcement of vex-
atious and sumptuary laws upon re-
sisting peoples, not by their own Off
GERS, but by informers and prosecutors
from a distance. 1t was resistance to
some such measures that awakened
the spirit of 10. No less certain is
the prospect that one successful inva-
sion of the rights of the states by sec
tartan and centralizing influences will
be followed by many others designed
still further to regulate or suppress SIS
customs, diversions, occupations, do
mestic relations, forms of public wor-
ship, perhaps matters of faith and
opinion. Thus the states, speaking
through intimidated, bigoted or reck-
less legislatures i'll many cases are do
ing much more than ratifying a meas
ure suggested as sure cure for the
admitted evils OF intemperance They
are opening the door to a consolidated
autocracy at Washington which even
tualy will overthrow the Republic as
we have known it, and they are well
coming this monster in the name of
God.
On the same page was cartoon
representing beautiful woman, called
Personal Liberty" being made to
walk the plank by an old man called
Prohibition.
Appeals for Rebellion
On January % letter appeared on
the editorial page of the World, head
ed, "The Lynching of Liberty" On
January p, on the editorial page, APP
peared letter signed al Rehm," in
which il is said: