New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Ne,~ York Tribune
fuyoD~~ Hwrcdil


tcopssiSh; 1919. New .osk tribune lnc>
LONDON, Sept 2s.-"non't call II
nv campaign" said v. J.. ("puSsy-
eoot'N Johnson in an Interview to-day
a an only 3 sort of John the Baptist
preparing the way for greater things
10 come
hoadquarterS in Fleet Street. spoil the
!. an of whom all England is taxing
The man who, II he has rot done an
other thing, has provided the song
writer's and jokesmit,.s o. England
with enough material to last for years.
Try as he may to hide his personality
under q bushcl. II is the nan himself
who has captured the British magma
ton. No new musical comedy or
vaudeville act is complete without rel
erence 70 this man "pussyfoot." And
what is more, at-or about six months
OF excessive bitterness. it begins to
lock as though Johnson we're beginning
70 make 4 lot OF friends.
appeal 10 the British. He is the an
ti-hesis Of the American type the B.t-
ish dislike. There is nothing blatant
or seif-assertivc about 'Pussyfoot."
World League against Alcoholism
What is TINS greater thing FOR
winch You are paNlng ne way ne
vas asked
The Ncrld League Agains, Ncohol-
isn." replied johnsol. Headquarters
Of thi, organization viii soon be es-
tablshed IN London" he added. "aad
there will bc branches IN Paris and III
nc capitals Of practically every coun-
,rv in the world"
There is nothing secrctivc about
Johnson. lie outlined the plans OF
This world campaign, refusing to call
l. his owN, although it s fact that
here in Fleet Street sits the man to
r'nom come reports of the dry move
rent throughout the world. From his
cfice ore-man establishment. ema-
nate instructions and advice to all the
lar flung agerts OF prohibition.
il must not be thoueht that Johnson
Is conhaing his activities to England.
A matter OF fact. however. 10 aG
miis this country Is the hardest o.
prohibition problems. and VIII be p~ob
ably The last lc board the water wagon.
but he never admits fcr mo.nont he
possibility of he worl9 not going dry.
Gains in Europe
'Hcro are some of our world plans"
he said. 'In Sweden We ALREADY have
majori'v Tor Droh jbi.;on in the
lower house and win get a majority in
the ipper House. The bill! providing
for prohibition viii come up il
January.
Norway viii have a pie6iscite on
the question of prohibition this month
Finland has been dry since June.
Esthonia is preparing to include pro
hbi,lon in her constitution. i she
does so she viii be the hlst country
III Europe to, start its national career
4 In, Il.,r .t,.i
many dry communities. The right sort
Of magistrates are in, and they simply
refuse 10 issue licenses. Letvia prob
ably Will adopt prob bition when cor
stitutional government Is established.
There is an interesting reason for
the strength of the prohibition move
men. in Letvia and in t.sthonia. The
Germans cave them raw deal. About
70 per cent OF the land vas owned By
',crman barcns. and Germans cor
rolled the breweries ard vodka fac
,ories. Now that they are free the
people arc absolutely against every
thing German. aic0hol. lncluded.''
Speaks Familiarly of Drives
Johnson speaks Familiarity Of far
reaching anti-iiquor campaigns in
New Zealand. in the Balkan states, il
China and Japan. and although he CON
slsteHtly c!aims that 1t = not his cam
paign he laughed outright when asked.
ell, who is the one man around here
that directs all this" and then solemn
y pointed to himself That laugh Of
his has won him more friends than his
cause on this side of the water. Most
vets cannot help liking johnson when
he laugh~
How about the campaign here in
England ?" he was asked. "How far
have YOU got. What are the chances
Of winning. and how soon do You cX-
pect success
1T is hard to say" Johnson replied
'haybe victory won't come in my
time, but | have rented these Offices for
:Senty-one wears. and the chances are
Will be RIGHT or the job for that
lsagtl Of time. at least. Sometimes I
EEL that this country is in for a big
urprise. know how the people feel
the majority OF them-but the fight