Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-22
READY
TO MAKE WORLD
VAST DRY SPOT
J. Barleyeorn's Future Depends on
Success or Failure of Ban In
This Country.
RY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Washington, July 22.-As it is
the duty of the commander of any
military unit to estimate the STU
alton" before going into action, so
are the leaders of the movement to
make the world dry for democ-
racy" just now very busy in taking
the measure of the job in. hand.
John Barleycorn's future from
pole to pole, they hold, will depend
largely upon the success or failure
of prohibition in the United States,
where a great people has pioneered
by voting itself dry If, within the
next half decade, prohibition Will
have brought about the good re-
suits that the "drys" claim It VIII,
then the other countries OF the
world will be more likely to adopt
it than if it failed to cure the evils
that are charged to the use of
'likker." So does the United States
become the great demonstration
plant to prove the virtue or falIacy
of prohibition.
ProhibitiOnists the world over are
stalking everything upon the results
they expect to accrue in this coun-
try from the abolition of intoxicat-
ing drinks Within the next rev
days they hope to be able to point
out to the people of wet" countries
how the United States has been
bettered economically, socially and
civilly by the elimination of booze.
This will be their trump card in
their fight for worldwide prohlbi-
fion. The attack upon the worlds
liquor forces has already been
launched.
THE whole world will be dry by
1880" said one enthusiastic pro-
hibitionist who had leading part in
the successful campaign wageG in
this country. "Old John is doomed
to a fate similar to that of Bill
Hohenzollern and Jess Willard. His
days are numbered. In this country
folks laughted at US five years ago
when we predicted that the United
States would be dry by 1929. We
exceeded our own expectations in
putting over prohibition a year
earlier than the most undaunted
prohibitionists had expected vic
tory. Wen do the same in our
worldwide fight Woodrow Wilson
made the world safe for democracy,
and we're going to make it dry for
democracy"
Organizing World.
With this challenge to the "wets, ="
the prohibitionists already have
begun to organize and line up their
supporters in every country in the
world The first international meet
ing of the "drys" held for the pur-
pose of mapping out plans for the
big campaign took place in this
CITY recently when thirty-seven ma
tons were represented. Sixteen
sent delegates direct to the confer
ence. while the other twenty-one
were represented by missionaries
or others located in this country.
The international prohibition or
ganiZation will be known as the
World League Against Alcoholism.
and will have permanent headquar-
tiers in Washington. At the initial
conference Of the league. it was de-
cided to raise s5,O00.00O in this
country with which to begin the
worldwide war on booze Large
sums will also be collected in other
countries.
country who actively worked for
the cause will not be permitted to
rest on their oars now that the
country has become a veritable
desert. Men and women who toured
the United States in the interest of
prohibition will be pressed into for
eign service. Numerous countries
have called upon the Anti-Saloon
league of America to supply speak
ers. and also men to conduct the
business end of the prohibition
campaign. Edwin c. Dinwiddie, ma
tional legislative superintendent of
the league. has been invited to Eng
land, Scotland and ireland to open
the campaign in those countries.
According to Mr.. Dunwiddie,
much of the ground work for world
wide prohibition has already been
accomplished in a number of the
countries.
"A few days ago We received a
cabIegram from Finland" he said,
bringing the good tidings that that
new born nation is starting out
right by adopting prohibition. The
prohibition law went into effect in
Finland June 1, 1919.
Has Local Veto.
Scotland has what is called local
veto, which is somewhat similar to
local option. The British parliament