Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-09
WITH PROHIBITION SURE,
RUM CONTINUES WAR
Propagandists for Liquor Call
Forth Old Personal Liberty
Rogie, Says Writer.

Prohibition in the United States is
practically assured. but It does nc' follow
that even at the present satisfy. : stage
Of the battle. final victory Is g. 1e easily
won. The liquor interests. IN their des-
peratlon. are already resorting 70 means
which, if not speedily and completely
countered by the prohibition forces, may
lead TO serious results, even If, at the worst,
the triumph Of prohibition can only be de-
layed
Regardless OF possible consequences,
some agencies, not difficult to identify,
are said to be engaged IN carrying on an
antI-prohlbltton propaganda among
sailors and soldiers of the United States,
especially among those who have been, or
who are still in service abroad. Recent
reports, apparently promoted by the in
terests most concerned, from points in
Europe where United States soldiers are
massed, declare that these men are saving
that, having fought for freedom abroad,
they are now going TO light against any
limitation of freedom at home. Without
giving too much credence 20 reports Of
this character, or too much weight 20
such threats, If made, it is only common
prudence 20 consider to what extent an
nsidious suggestion that in the United
States personal liberty is menaced through
prohibition, with undue restriction might
be made TO create discomfort and foment
disorder among the unthinking and lm
pulsive in the ranks
This alleged method of proceeding on
the part of the liquor interests and their
friends Is, of course, but variation OF the
old personal liberty bugaboo The
constant cry of those who in the past have
taken financial profit from the debasement
and degradation of humanity by catering
to deprayed appetite has been, and prob
ably to the end of their vocation will con-
tinue 10 be, the injustice contemplated or
practiced III denying men the privilege
of running their own prospects and happi-
ness and the prospects and happiness of
others, through drink No time should be
lost in setting the truth before the
soldiers and sailors Those who need IN
stuction in such Il matter. at this late
day. should be shown that through pro-
hibltlon will come IA larger measure OF
freedom for the nation thHn II has ever
before enjoyed
Even when the federal prohibition
amendement shall have received ratItlca-
ton from three-fourths of the legis-
latures or more, the lIQor interests will, it IS
expected, still continue To fight There are
reasons for saying ut the present moment
that the manner in which the amend
mcnt was submitted by Congress to the
legislatures will beattackedd On constitution
al grounds BY placing a limitation upon
the time in which. the States would be
allowed to act on the amendment, Con-
gress, in the opinion of many, exceeded
its powers, but, even if the Supreme
Court should SO decide, it need not
nacaSSa rjIy follow IN fart II should npt
follow, hat the legality
of the resolution of submission would be
impaired The possibility OF an attempt 70
have the amendment eventually declared
invalid is mentioned here only as the last
straw TO which the liquor traffic can
hope 10 cling
This is prohibition year the year that
bids fair TO mark victory for fight begun
by Neal Dow, when IA ayor Of Portland,
Maine, in lS5l.-Christian Science
Monitor