The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
|bR|TA|N LEANING
| TOWARD DRYNESS
Subtle Campaign of PUSSY
foot" Johnson Already
Begins to Have Effect

| London. october 15.-(Reciprocal News
Service Three months ago the pubs
| public houses, saloons) were crowded
with men who declared with sureness
that Great Britain would never go dry"
that no matter what would happen else
where in the world the British Isles
would remain the inviolable haven of
| liberty.
Today the pubs seem just as crowd
| ed, but the discussions of the tipplers
are on the question whether prohibition
will come abruptly within the next five
years or gradually during the next 50.
| That it will come seems generally ac-
cepted.
The London Daily Mail. which has been
| &C nducting an anti-prohibition campaign.
chiefly by ridculing "Pussyfoot' John
son, the Kansas dry campaigner, is
becoming less bitter, and seems sud-
denly to have realized that its excess of
energy in informing Mr.. Johnson he was
not welcome in this country has been the
most favorable advertisement for him.
His name is on everyone's lips; pussy
footing has become a London express
sion: he has reached the glittering glory
of having his name banded about on the
vaudeville stage. He is known, and
he achieved this national prominence in
a very few weeks.
SO far "Pussyfoot' has done very lit
tie sepaking. 1t is known that he has
not approved the churchy sort of tenn
perance lecturers that were blocking pro-
hibition over here, and had sent for a
Yank "wrecking crew." which has been
unable to come across owing to the al
legged refusal of the British government
to grant passport visas "Pussyfoot" has
been very busy, however with a silent
campaign; and without doubt something
is going on quietly, invisibly. that shows
the effect of strong dry influence.
The latest defense of the anti-prohi-
bitionists seems to be founded on two
arguments-the nation has had four and
half years OF dying and should be al
lowed to live to the fullest now, the
brewers an distillers themselves are TAX
ing steps to eradicate intemperance and
to make rational drinking possible.
What "Pussyfoot" Johnson is institl-
ing into many minds-by some occult
processes that person feels better and
works or plays better if all drinking Is
given up.
Thomas Burke, the English novelist.
| who has been one of the bitterest enemies
of prohibition, has confessed to me his
alarm at the turn of the situation. az
would never have believed it possible"
| began, Mr. Burke II could imagine the
aristocracy pretending 1t had given up al
| cohol. but | was certain that English
workingmen would never honestly forsake
| the stimulant which they need in this
| climate
II had a carter bring some boxes of
books over from BALKAN to my house in
TIlghgate the other day. 1t was very
hard work. When he had finished, l
said, Now, my man, go in the kitchen
| and have a bottle of beer He touched
his cap respectfully and excused him
self
I'VE had a delivery of coal last week. l
made the usual offer Of beer to the
| coal man He said, Sorry sir, but I
have given 1t UP for good, and II YOU
would, sir, you would feel much bet
ter
| ST told the man I feel and have felt
quite alright. but he only smiled. MY
| hospitality was next refused by chim-
ney sweep. called on an old friend
who is mine host at a fourteenth cen
| tury tavern at Uxbridge. I had often
spent the night at the inn, and even
| have helped fill the tankards of beer
when there was a rush. This innkeeper
| has not only gone dry but he too. car
! ried along the insidious propaganda by
| telling me he felt much better. Another
/ old friend of mine, a magazine editor,
| told me he resolved to try abstinence
| for a month to note its effects. HIS
! testimony was that within week ne
| felt younger and stronger, and that at
| his office his feet danced beneath his
desk all day long, whereas they were as
heavy as lead While ne was drinking
| man.
| But all Of them confess one deep re-
| pret-they suffer loss of sociability.
| Formerly they met their friends casually
| or by appointment at their favorite pubs.
Now they have no meeting places.