The sun., 1919-01-26
Continued from First Page.

war began in 1914. stopping the manu-
facturo and sale Of vodka. which is a
fiery white brandy Of very high alcoholic
content and has long been called the
great curse OF the Russian peasan.ry.
The war mearure was taken by the
Imperial Government for tho sake Of
national morale and national thrift. AT
present the view exists, but not IN
authoritative quarters. that the abolish
rnent Of vodka was largely responsible
for Ruesia's revolutionary plight. There
have been rumors lately. rumors no bet
ter verified than most others out OF
Russia. that the Bolshevist Government
has suffered vodka to come back.
The imperial action in Russia was
beyond question n great card for pro-
hibition advocates in other nations.
Great Britain for most OF century has
had its quota Of temperance and pro-
hibition societies striving to introduce
national legislation, but of late years
more and more effectually thwarted by
the attitude OF the labor man in politics
Liquor manufacture was restricted In
England early In the war. and more
drastically as the submarine blockade
appeared a menace. for the cor 60 va ton
OF the grains for food. A no treat law
was passed In 1915 and an abstinence
movement was led by the King who
"swore Off" for the duration of the war
First the Asquith, and later the LLOYD
George, Ministry felt the national pulse
with war prohibition In view. hoping
II would benefit the production OF war
materials. The formidable Labor party
holding to some extent a balance OF
power among the factions repre- sented
in the coalition, made It plain that
test on the prohibition Issue could only
result In disaster.
Canada Actually Dry.
Canada is not constltutionally. but
10 practically dry. Americans whose
thirsts survive the enforcement OF the
constitutional amendment will not he
able to sake them by stepping across
the Northern border. The war fostered
a spread OF local option laws among
the provinces, many of which through
high license provisions were virtually
prohibition measures Within the last
two years the restrictions put into effect
for the protection OF Canadian soldiers
have made the entire Dominion dry in
fact
Germany came TO the armistice
largely dried a. the result of the ex-
haustion OF her stocks Of liquor and her
food conservation measures, which as
early as 1914 had restricted tho pro-
duction OF beer to two-ffths OF tho
former average yearly quantity.
France by an early war measure pro-
hibited the traffic In shsinthe. reputed
Of all spirItuous beverages to be most
directly noxlous to the drinker. Tho
annual production OF wine in France
was greatly reduced by devastation OF
the vineyard region. and huge stores Of
aging vintages we're seized by the Ger
mans throughout the occupied PROVINCES.
Food conservation measures checked the
production OF some spirituous liquors,
the drain OF the war on man power
crippled the industries producing others,
and this went so far that by 1917 the
poor man In France who sought strong
drink could bury little except synthetic
thigh wines" limitations. But wine re-
mains what II has been for centuries, a
necessary Of daily life to the French.
who have never understood the appeals
of the temperance missionaries sent
among them from other countries.
Capital Involved $1,000. 200, 900.
To-day In the United States the total
invested capital put In jeopardy by pro-
hfbition is computed 10 amount TO nearly
a billion and a half. OF which rather
and the remainder In brewerIes and the
domestic wine industries The stock of
liquor on hand at the close Of 1918 was
estimated worth $500, 0O0, 900. In the
last year previous to war conditions the
internal revenue from the liquor traffic
WAS about s2So.ooo.o0o. or nearly half
tha Governments total raised revenue.
Under war conditions this source of
national income yielded not far from
$500. 900. 900.
Besides the liquor business gave en-
pioyinent and support to more than
100000 workev of all kinds. Their
monthly wage aggregated not far from
100000. The business contributed
more than 800. 600. 900 a year 10 the In
comes OF the forty-eight States and
their counties and municipalities In
several States the annual State revenue
from II was more than $4,000. 900 and In
. few II was more than twice that sum.
First and foremost of the Temperance
and prohibition societies now congratu-
Isting themselves upon the ratification
OF the amendment II undoubtedly the
Ant,-saloon League. although It's age
- ht'lS over quarter OF century. It