New-York tribune., 1919-04-20
~ ROHIBITION is far from a dry
subject and the interest in it be-
comes deeper daily. People are

who, II any one, will turn off the spigo,
on the historic First of July. now that the
legal advisers of the government have
admitted that the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau has not the requisite authority. At
the same time, however, it is officially
announced that the above bureau has a
force Of 800 inspectors and 2,2S3 agents
under instruction for the coming of the
day. And in the interim the critics are
analyzing two referendums, expressive of
popular sentiment on the bone drv uues-
tion--to wit, Michigan's vote on the pro-
posed amendment to the state constitu-
tion permitting the manufacture and
sale of light wines and beers, result dry,
and the wet election in Chicago "The
New York World" points to the heavy
dry vote in the country which is over
balancing the wet vote of towns and cit
les, explaining it as follows:
Zone reason why farmers and villagers
overwhelm city voters when prohibition Is
at stake, as has now been the case in Michi-
gan, may be found in the fact that they
are nearer the natural sources of supply
and so are less inclined to fear inconvenient
deprivation. When the Revenue Bureau
finds it necessary to look after these con-
servers and manpulators of the baleful
cider and grape juice, to say nothing of
private stills, 1t will need several times
3,Os3 men in every state, and thus it will
solve the problems of drink and unemploy-
ment at one stroke"
Speaking of grape juice, Gertrude
Atherton, writing in ''The New York
Times" has disclosed it as an insidious
beverage, inquiring:
"Why do the Prohibitionists overlook
the dangers lurking in the indulgence of
grape juice? l was once writing a story
IN which my heroine was to be tried for her
lie, and cultivated the society, temporari-
ly, of the sheriff of the county in which the
scene was laid. He confded to me that
he liked his whiskey and beer as we'll as
the next man., but never was drunk but
once in his life. He-after some demur-
consented to spend day in Ocean Grove
with friends. The day was hot and he was
extremely thirsty. There was no beer and
he was forced to refresh himself with grape
juice.
The more he drank the more thirsty he
became. Finally, weird thing hap
pened. His stomach--it was a very large
one-acted as still, the grape juice fer
mented, and he went roaring over Ocean
Grove, shattering the peaceful calm of
that sacrosanct preserve, until his ter
rified friends managed to find a convey
ance and rush him out to avoid arrest.
Never was SO mortaly ashamed in my
life as when came TO-. he added. Been
good drinker all my life, and then to
make fool of myself on grape juicel
cursed the man who invented it,
This country is the headquarters of
cranks and fanatics. The bee in their bon
nets stings them into constant activity.
and the rest of US are so easy going that
we sit back and merely laugh at them
while they go ahead, driven by Iidee fixe.'
and accomplish the letter at least of their
ridiculous projects. But if prohibition be-
comes law we shall have more drunken
ness and vice than ever before, and I sim
cerely hope that the instigators will be
the first to suffer"
"The Ell Paso Morning Times" has
drawn a lurid picture of alcohol as it
is hunted to it's lair:
THE other day the body of member Of
prominent Virginia family was on its wav
from Baltimore to his home in Norton. Va.
Ihe coffin was made safe, so far as any,
thing is or should be safe from what used
to be considered desecraton, by the certifi- ,
Gates of physician and an undertaken.
Federal agents heard rumor that whisky
was to be shipped through Roanoke con-
'ealed IN that unusual way They got a
search warrant. They performed their
gracious duty. If they found nothing, il
the feelings Of the dead mans relatives
we're not pleasant, if in Virginia even the
lead cannot escape the sleepless vigilance
If the agents of prohibition, why should
'ld-fashioned virginians or anybody else
'e angry? Shall even the majesty and
he sacredness of death be no bar to the
lctlvltles Of the anti-liquor agents q asks
The Richmond Times Dispatch hon.
stly, no doubt, yet not without GER
ain smack of wet malignancy. Certainly
lot. Prohibition outcrows and overrides
very consideration, profane or sacred In
act, nothing else is sacred, or even inn
ortant' Old delusions and customs. fan
asles about personal liberties and rights
ade away in the burning light of this su-
rene sun of truth. Living or dead, King
-lcohol must be hunted down, for the good
the community and the accompanying
ees."
Opposition to prohibition, passive and
therw1se, has caused Arthur Capper.
'rltlng in "The Topeka Capital" to
'resee a stiff fight for prohibitionjsts
1t is not going to be walkaway." he
redicts, and continues: