Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-12
Meeting tho Test

NOV that nation wide prohibition. statutory
y though its status is. is in effect, tho men
responsible for il may we'll study its opera
tion and observe the attitude Of the country
at large toward 1t. The most Important qucs-
ton involved is whether there will be an over
whelmng popular revolt against il. or will the
people generally come to the conclusion that
there is both social and All economic demand
that intoxicating beverages be outlawed?
The honest truth is that neither tho pro-
hibitionsts nor the Observation-Disclosures have
reason to shrink from the test that is now
being given this revolutionary reform. Those
of them who are sincere in their views and
not actuated by personal considerations
should welcome the experiment. They should
see in it an opportunity to yindcate all that
they have contended for all they have fore
seen and all that they have hoped for. II
they not borne out they, as honest men.
must confess their error of judgment and con-
cede the argument against them
The prob bltionist, for example has the
chance TO show whether or not prohibition
actually prohibits. He can show the moral
effect upon wet communities and the nation
as a whole which prohibition will have. lie
can show whether not the individual, with
the temptation to drink removed. becomes
better citizen and more law bding. In short
he can show whether or not the theory OF pro-
hibiton for great nation of 1oo.000,000
or more people is sound and defensible.
Anti-prohibitionists. on the other hand,
have an equal chance To prove their case.
They may show what evils have followed
in the path of arbitrary outlawng of the
liquor industry. They can show to what
extent men and women have turned to drugs
for artificial stimulation to other COM
pounds containing alcohol They can show
whether many thousands OF reputable bust
ness men have been ruined and whether
banks and other financial institutions have
been driven TO the wall. They can show
whether millions OF dollars worth of prom
erty has become valueless and whether State
and municipal treasures. deprived of LIQUOR
revenues. have become empty
All this is demonstrable before constitu-
tional prohibition actually goes into effect.
IT II is demonstrable al all. AS matter
of fact. both sides OF this question have been
extravagantly defended. Not all the bless
ings that have been hoped for will come as
result of national prob btion, nor all the
evils will follow that have been proph esied
That some good will result, goes without
saying. No sane man can argue 10 the con-
trary. And that some unfortunate results
Will be experienced is inevitable
1t would, perhaps, have been better for the
nation TO have made its wartime experiment
with the liquor question before it committed
itself almost irrevocahly to constitutional pro-
hibition. Even IL the most dire OF the pre-
dictions should be borne out during tho com
ing weeks, it would still be impossible TO
repeal the Federal amendment before the
time set for 1t to 80 into operation But it
would not be too late for Congress to recon
slider any overdrastjc enforcement legis-
lation which it may enact