Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-10-09
SOCIAL EFFECTS OF
J OF
PROHIBITION

There is something much more
than a joke in the suggestion that
home, sweet home" will be invest
ed with new and greatly enhanced
charms through the operation of
the prohibition law which while
abolishing all public traffic in or use
of alcoholic beverages will permit
practically unlimited domestic man
ufacture of cider and light wines.
There is a keen reminder of the GER
tainty of radical changes in the
whole tone and habit ol sociai life.
There is question as to what drug
habits may to certain extent re-
place alcoholic indulgence, as was so
notably the case in China and in M
nammedan countries. There is also
the question of what will take the
amusements which seem hitherto to
have been depend, upon the
drinking habits of the public.
Some marked results of prohibit
ton have already become apparent.
In the large cities numerous restau-
rants and some hotels have entirely
gore out of business, while many
others have greatly curtailed their
activities. Some of the best known
restaurants--not mere drinking
places but legitimate restaurants OF
high haracter-instead OF remain
ing open until late in the evening
now close promptly after an early
dinner hour. Cabaret performances
and even simple musical accom-
paniments to dining, have largely
been discontinued. Dancing as an
adjunct to dining has been much
abated. After-the-theatre suppers
are far fewer than of old. Public
banquets also seem likely to be few
er in number and smaller in attend
ance. To what extent these pro-
ceses will be continuedand extended
or the reverse, as the social season
of the later fall and winter advances,
will form an object of interested OBJ
servation There is at present no
indication of any reaction against
the tendencies which we have de-
scribed, nor indeed and reason for
expecting 1t.
Now it may be that some of these
changes are for the good of the COM
munity, individually and collective
ly. Others are legitimately to be re-
GREETED That, however, is not the
present point. What we are inter
ested in is the question what will
take the place, If anything does, OF
the things thus abolished. Three
conceivable courses are open, of
greatly varying degrees of desirable
ity. One is, that some substitute
of an acceptable character will be
found, which will enable society to
maintain its activities with their
sparkle and gayety little IL any abat-
ed. This, seeing that man is So
cial being" is to be desired, within
reasonable limits. The second con-
ceivable course Is also to an extent
desirable. namely. an increase OF do
mesticity. 1t will doubtless be
mighty good thing for those who
have been spending their time else
where and IL they do not know
how to make home life interesting,
they will do well to learn. For
man is home-making as well as a
social being.
The third course is altogether to
be deprecated; and yet it would be
inexcusable folly not to recognize
the serious danger that there is Of
it's being pursued to considerable
extent. That is, a turning toward
furtive and Illicit forms of so-called
social enjoyment. 1t is indisputable
that this has been done hitherto in
prohibition states; how widely is a
matter of question. There are those
who fear that under universal pro-
hibition such practices will prevail
in all states; and there are on the
other hand those who insist that
universal prohibition will make
possible their universal suppression.
We shall see; and we hope that the
latter theory will be indicated.
In any case. it is well for us to
realize that the adoption of prohi-
bition does not mean merely cessa-
ton of the liquor traffic and Of the
public drinking habit. 1t means
Just as certainly far-reaching and
profound changes in our social and
domestic life, in economic, in the
whole tone and character OF the ma
ton. 1t will be incumbent upon
all who take an interest in the pub
lie veal, and in a peculiar sense up
on those who were responsible for
the adoption of the new system, to
do their utmost to make those
changes for the better and not for
the worse.-Harvey's Weekly.