The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-03-26

workings. 1t is SIN 10 take Hgnt
wines and beer from the working
man." claims an official from Wiscon-
sin, and Maine secretary whose big
red seal seems to give emphasis to his
statement declares that Prohibition
in Main has been a complete political
farce. One organization at its last ma
tional convention even went on record
as being absolutely opposed to Pro-
hibition, believing that it would not
benefit the workingmen and their
families"
Replies Favoring Prohibition
Having permitted the minority to
give its reasons why Prohibition has
not been a benefit to workngmen and
their families, we now turn to the OPP
position, which claims for Prohibition
many virtues and benefits. As stated
in the beginning, 345 of the $40 Off
Gals replying are in favor OF Prohibi-
ton. Some are merely in favor, while
Others are emphatically so. Some re-
plies are sprinkled with such adjectives
as positively" "emphatically,' "abso-
lutely,' decidedly" and "unquestion-
ably and two officials say, why, Of
course, we are in favor OF Prohibition
what a ridiculous question: One
Washington union official declares
that he has worked for Prohibition in
that state for twenty years and that
his organization is unreservedly for
Prohibition A Pennsylvania secre-
tary claims that Prohibition has been
a great cause for clear thinking among
the workers, and another Washingto
district organizer tells us that Prohi-
bition has developed independence in
the worker.
An Illinois secretary says that he
is not dry man." but that it is his
honest conviction that "'booze' will
ruin the best of men," and another ILL
nos union official from coal-mining
community gives as his interesting
opinion the fact that in that vicinity
they attribute the success of the coal
miners negotiations to the fact that
Prohibition was the rule. 1T kept
mems brains clear and kept a little
money in their pockets while the nego-
tiations were going on" he adds. This
statement is Endorsed by another coal
mining representative in the southern
part OF Illinois. 81
From Texas comes the theory that
with booze gone and reason re-
stored the era of unrest will soon
pass, while other union secretaries III
New York and Michigan give ider teal
statements to the effect that "since
Prohibition is in force, the workers
are capable OF clearer thinking and do
more of it. Consequently the labor
movement is sure to advance as pri-
vatc stocks and 'bootleggers' de-
crease" A Massachusetts secretary
tells us that money which formerly
bought whisky is now buying happi-
ness for the workingmans family"
prohibition now, henceforth, and
forever is the slogan of New Or
leans union official, and Florida sec
rotary declares emphatically that Pro-
hibtion has been benefit to working
men and their families, and thanks us
for the opportunity of voting. From
Iowa comes detailed reasons why the
majority of the Executive Board Of
the State Federation of Labor favors
Prohibition:
"Prohibtion has been a benefit to
organized 1aboring men and women.
Tradc-union activities are directed
principally along two lines-the secur-
ing of better wages and working con-
ditions, and legislation that will be
beneficial to labor.
"If a union is to be successful in
lettering the conditions under which
its members work and increasing their
wages, it is necessary that the mem
bership give the organization their CO.
operation and support. This can be
done i'll no better way than by attend
ing the meetings and taking an inter
est in affairs. Practically all business
of the union originates in the meet
ings. In the days when the union
meeting was competing with the sa
loon for attendance it was usually the
rule that the saloon was more attrac-
tive to some than the union meeting.
This fact alone deprived the union of
a number of men who would have
been active workers and whose coun-
sci would have been beneficial. Many
of the best workers we have in the
trade-union movement today were a
few years ago taking little interest in
union affairs. You ask about their
families. ] take the position-and it
is not original-that anything that is
of real benefit to the workingman is
Of equal benefit to his family / be-
1;ave tbat n dollar invested in the