The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-01-31


credit the dry victory TO some "mystt
credit it as a response OF an overw
economic forces OF the nation-but III
sue victory was achieved by the enpl
For instance, in an editorial OF Il
Under our system things can be
accounted for only in one way,
the masterful Prohibitionists have
been carrying on still hunt and
while the people in some places
have been voting against Prohi-
bition and everywhere has been
preoceuped by war, their state
Legislatures have been secretly
and in some instances dishonesty
packed in behalf OF centralized
fanaticism and oppression.
Furthermore the World believes
that Legislatures were elected with
out the voters having any mixing OF
the fact that ratification was big
issue. On this point it says:
In many cases states arc being
turned without reference TO popu-
lar opinion. discussion OF the IS
sues involved, and with no con-
sideration OF whether in matter
relating to sclf-government one
state has the right to impose It's
tain
California is striking illusfra-
ton OF an even more definite dis
regard for public sentiment. Last
November it voted emphatical'y
against Prohibition, This week 4
Legislature. mostly chosen at the
same time and obviously not rep
resentativc % the people, has
ratified the amendment by large
majority
The World disregards the tact that
the same people who refused TO en-
act statewide Prohibition elected on
an out and out Issue state lsegisia-
ture pledged to ratification OF the
national Prohibition amendment. The
New York Post answers the conten-
ton raised by the World as follows;
E.,f3ornia's ratification simply
y.oves again that there are argu-
ments for national Prohibition
that do not exist for state Prohi-
bition. Like Massachusetts, Cali
fornia is ready TO support Prohl-
bition when it applies to all
Americans alike.
But the World goes even further III
its denunciation OF Prohibition, not
hesitating to compare bolshevikism
with Prohibition. Thus III rcjoinder
to the Evening Post editorial where
in the Post urged good citizens 10
"unquestioning obedience to laws
that may be enacted to carry out the
Prohibition amendment because ma
tional Prohibition was directed by 4
moral force" the World says:
The whole Bolsheyist program
to-day is built up on the appeal to
public morality and moral forces.
Private ownership OF property is
wicked per Sc, therefore eonfis-
cate the property, The bourgeoi-
sic is the enemy OF mankind,
therefore. butcher the bourgeois.
When the !. w. w. pleads Tor the
sacred right OF sabotage it is just
As eloquent in behalf OF moral
forces as the professional Prohi-
bitionist when he insists that his
neighbours vineyard must be de-
stroyed and that glass of beer
is concentrated damnation.
One TACT of the matter is that
the Prohibition amendment has
been carried through in defiance
OF the fundamental principles OF
the American republic and in de-
fancc also of all the political ira
ditions of the American people.
The lobby bent all its energies to
the work of ratification because
il did not dare wait until the
troops had returned home from
France and the American people
had had an opportunity to con-
slider this question calmly and de-
liberately. 1t was snap pro-
ceeding, and in spite OF all the
bleating about moral forces, the
action has no moral status what
ever, because it is at war with all
true political morality, which
gives due consideration TO the
rights of both majorities and mi
norities.
There have been many shame
full chapters in American history.
but no other chapter which was
written in such infamous disre-
gard OF the spirit Of American in
stitutions.