The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-02

Bishop James Cannon, Jr., who has
been abroad since last December In
the interest ot the prohibition move
ment, gives the following Leaves
, from MY Notebook" in the current
issue OF the Christian Advocate:
In my first letter endeavord to
emphasize tbs significant fact that
God had been developing in America
great Christian commonwealth. In
imbedded the fundamental principles
OF the teachings OF Jesus Christ con-
corning the equality of all men In the
sight OF God, the responsibility of all
men to God, and the responsibility Sof
every man for the welfare of every
other man. In this great common
wealth, under the providence OF God.
there has been developed free
church in a free state. Whatever may
be the Judgment from a political
standpoint. the writer believes that
from Christian standpoint the lesson
OF the hour is evident. The United
States as nation has a great up
lifting mission to the other nations OF
the world. and the Protestant church
in America has as loud and as clear
a call today to come over into Europe
and help u.s. as st. Paul had in his day
to come over into Macedonia and
help u.s."
AS l stated in my first letter, the
joint commission Of the two Methodist
churches has been making a very care
full Study of conditions In France.
Italy, and Belgium; and / was privil-
eyed to be with the commission the
greater part OF the time. An official
statement will be made by the COM
mission, and for the present T will pass
~ INT
AZ they Will doubtless be touched upon
to some extent in that official state
ment ] wish to emphasize in this
letter some facts in connection with
my work as member of the COM
mission on temperance and social serv-
ice OF our church.
American Prohibition in Europe.
The attitude OF America on the
prohibition Of the liquor traffic has
produced profound impression. not
only upon the people. but upon the
governments OF Europe. The steady.
continuous growth of the prohibition
movement in the United States had
never been fully realized even by
weli-informed leaders Of European
thought II had seemed to be a
strictly provincial matter. and even
when the bill for prohibition in the
District OF Columbia was passed, in
1917, Its full significance was not I'M
derstood in the capitals of Europe
Moreover, that action was taken when
the war male all other things seem
apparently insignificant. When con-
gress passed Il e law prohibiting the
sale OF intoxicants to our soldiers and
sailors in uniform and the generals
in command OF the American army in
Europe declared that it was the policy
n A mi 1T - Al
holic ration to the soldiers. there was
much interest am ong the armies or the
other allies as to the effect OF such a
policy upon the morale Of the army.
1t Is worthy OF note that up to the
present time no one has ventured to
assert that the American army was
less Courageous or less effective IN its
operation against tho Germans be-
cause It did not neht on a wine or
brandy or run: ration.
Not "UncontroIlablc Emotion"
While the war continued. the pos
sfbility OF prohibition OF brewing and
distillation In order to save fuel and
foodstuffs was clearly recognized, and
there was no great surprise when the
United States did prohibit further dis
tillation in September. 1917. and when
later on the bin was passed prohibit
Ing the further manufacture OF wine
and beer after July /. 1919. But
Europe was not prepared for the rati-
! fication OF the federal prohibition
| amendment It thinks Of 1t as some
very unexpected action. The Daily
Mail declares: THE United States
has voted itself bone dry Prohibi-
ton has swept the country. There
was a sudden gathering OF uncon-
trollable emotion. Barriers. pre-
JUDGES, interest that had been care
fully built up and buttressed for a
hundred years went down in few
months. 1t will be in force in July as
war measure. and as a national
law in year that alcoholic liquors