The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-17
LABOR AND BEER
New York Times. J

In it's contemplated resistance to
in respect to the manufacture and
sale OF beer and other Intoxicating
beverages" the Central Federated
union has. overlooked many things.
notab bly,, that other provision of the
constitution of the United States in
'the first amendment, which declares
that congress shall make no law pro-
hlbitinG the free exercise of the right
of the people peacahly to assem BILE
and to petition the government for Il
redress of grievances"
Mr.. Ernest Bonn. corresponding
secretary of the Central Federated
union, in his letter TO affiliated unions
and organized labor generally. de-
ciares that the adoption of the prohi-
ptton amendment by what he de-
scrlbes AS d minority debating the
mode of life of Americans lis a dan
gerouS procedure. aud If accepted
without drastic protest may lead TO
even more damaging curtaIimcnt Of
American personal rights. There
/ tore, The mem bers of the unions are
70 vote upon the proposal that If
the hune-dry law ~ really enforced
on July /, 1919. to then cease work
until this law is annulled.' Against
the enforcement of laws unacceptable
10 the people. We have and have fire.
qucnuy used in this country a form
of protest that is all sufficiently
drastic, The American way in such
matters is to procure the repeal OF the
law, not by strikes and violence, but
through the orderly process OF legis-
iation by the peoples representatives
IN the state or national legislature
tNh I'D ~.
out The union will be entirely within
their rights II they begin for thwith
political agitation to convince the
people that the prohibition amend
tnent Us wrong and should be repealed
/ W hen the people arc Con.lneed. their
! representatives in congress from the
various states will not be slow to
obey their will.
A strike against prohibition. the
adoption of the proposal to cease
work il the law les not annulled. the
attempt to nullify it by raising the
! banner of mo beer, no work" would
be far more dangerous to liberty, 10
the rights of the people, than the en-
! forcement of the amendment even ii
1t be true. AZ MIR. Bohm assumes, tina,
1t was forced upon the country by q
! min ority. Wherever the rrNl blca n
form OF government has failed, it has
failed because of habitual and organ
lied resistance to law. Respect foi
authority and obedience to law are the
foundation stones of our institutions
II is only through law and under Law
that we can enjoy liberty. Resistance
to law is lawlesencss, and a iawless
country is doomed.
Mr.. Bohm liz quite too positive ir
his assertion that lit is n minority
fHpt l. al
amendment That is possibly true ir
A. few Of the states. notably in thi,
state, where the surprising result o.
the November election should have
warned tho Legislature that the people
did not desire the amendment to be
ratified. But II may wen he doubted
whether the legislatures Of so MANY
states could have or would have rati
fed tho amendment If majority sentl
ment had not supported the ratitica
ton. However much opinions ma,
| differ on that point. II Is n fact tina
the amendment has been ratified ir
the manner prescribed by law: It /,
the law: the statute prohibiting tn,
/ manufacture and sale Of LIQUOR afte,
July | is law. and no American citi
zen worthy OF his privileges will at
tempt forcihle resistance TO the en-
forcement of one or the other.
Organized labor is asking much II
those DAYS 1t is at present the de
sire and purpose of employers Il
grant every reasonable request Of la
Dor. TO do the utmost that can b,
done even at the sacrifice Of mucf
OF their own profits, to establish ant
maintain for wage earncrs condition.
of living which II is for the interes
OF the body polite that they shouIt
enjoy. Good wages and reasona BIZ
hours arc more important to labor
We suppose, than beer. Certainly. tn,
unions will not be so foolish as L
impair their good standing and forfeit
Their chances OF success in the en-
deavor to secure for themselves thi;
greater good by engaging TN rebel
hon against the laws of the land. The
unions could adopt no course of actor
more surely fatal to themselves and L
The interests of their mem bers