New-York tribune., 1920-02-08
Liquor Forces, Aroused by
Report of $50, 600, 600
Prohibition Fund Raised
In u. S.. Start Campaign
Publicity One Weapon
Saloon Interests Point to
''Poison Whisky" Deaths
in America as Lesson
By Frank w. Getty

q year of scornful laughter at PUSSY.
foot" Johnson, the trade" has at last
begun serious, nationwide anti
prohibition campaign.
A recent report. however erroneous,
that "dry" forces in the United States
had raised $50, ,0O0, 900 for an attack on
the liberty of England's imbibers, has
caused sensation, and the Brewers
Association, the Whisky Association
and the National Trade Defense Asso-
ciation are organizing rapidly to COM
Eat the anticipated activities Of the
World League Against Alcoholism.
No pains or money will be spared in
this country by the liquor trade to
meet the first move of the prohibition
lists. The first advertisement of the
Whisky Association appeared in the
afternoon papers to-day. 1t reads:
prohibition is producing its inevi-
table results in America. Unable to
obtain safe and pure spirits. the people
have become an easy prey to the pur-
veyors of poisonous substitutes. Under
similar conditions the recent tragic
events in the United States might be
repeated here. Consumers of whisky
should demand the strictest guarantees
that their supplies arc genuine and be-
yond suspicion.
Rights or fuDIC
"Government restrictions upon the
sale of whisky of unquestioned quality
are only less harmful than prohibition.
rs they create a shortage and an un-
equal distribution among the different
classes of the community. The public
has an inherent right to an adequate
supply of their favorite beverage.
There are no finer spirits than Scotch
and Irish whiskies, which stand for
purity and dependabiiity throughout
the world.
"In the best interests of the nation
the duty of the government is to pro-
tect the consumers not to prohibit or
restrict. This duty is accepted in re-
must not be sold as butter, and a
standard of quality is vigorously en-
forced in other foods of common cor
SUMPTION Scotch and Irish whistles
have established for themselves
standard of quality and purify which
the government should protect against
the possibility of adulte'tlon.
"The Whisky Association, which rep
resents all the '.stillers and leading
blenders of the United Kingdom, urges
upon consu~rs.'s the necessity for vigi-
lance a.d discrimination in the pur-
chase of their supplies. Definite guar
antees that whisky offered for sale is
wholly Scotch or Irish should be OBJ
tanned. and no foreign blend should be
accepted"
Propaganda Obtained in U. s.
Just as the United Kingdom Alliance,
the most active 'drys organization in
this country, which has been carrying
on its work with an average yearly in
come of $4,000, has gone to the United
States for many of its ideas as to the
conduct of prohibition campaign, so
is the trade" to borrow many leaves
from the notebook of the late anti
prohibition forces in America. The
United Kingdom Alliance imports
speakers from the States, so will the
National Trade Defense Association.
The "dry" forces here send to America
for propaganda leaflets, posters and
literature; so will the liquor interests
The "wets" are not completely or
ganized and no full disclosure of their
plans is to be made at present. but as
a start a large output of pamphlets and
billboard posters has been arranged
propaganda on a scale rivallng the re-
cruiting literature of war time. Tc
enlist the support of that section o1
the community which rarely uses the
bars and winerooms, but buys wine
beer and spirits for home consumption
propaganda labels will be affixed tt
bottles. One of these, on bottle o.
ale purchased yesterday, reads:
Local veto is the thin edge of The
prohibition wedge.
eff prohibition wins there will be nt
more beer"
Whisky bottles are more difficult Il
find, but they are said to bear similar
warnings with regard to whisky,
First Real Fight to Start
The United Kingdom Alliance has
been carrying on its work for half
century. There have always been pro
hibitionists in England, but thei,
efforts have been not only futile, bu
ignored. In 1920, for the first time, the
trade" feels called upon to defend
itself.
With the coming into force this yea,
of the Scottish Temperance act, which
grants the choice of local option tt
towns in Scotland, the first real prohi
btion fight in the British Isles will bt
put up. "Pussyfoet" johnson and Mrs
! Lloyd George and others have already
begun their campaign. The organized
licensed trade is secretly building uY
large defense fund to provide the
means of conducting an anti-prohibi
tion campaign. All saloonkeepers
glorified in the British Isles by the
title Of publican, are canvassed, each
has to contribute his bit to the cause
Some of the largest whisky corpora
tions subscribe thousands of pounds
the brewers pledge nearly a million il
event of crisis; wet" secretariat.
are established in different pans O.
Scotland
Demonstrations Arranged
Anti-prohibition demonstrations hav,
been arranged for the coming months
Local option plabiscites are scheduled
for May and before that time the "wet'
whips will be busy in most of the town
ships. The campaigning just before th,
polling will not be handled with gloves
feeling among the anti-prohibitionist
runs high. II will not be surprising i
violence characterizes many of tn,
elections.
The chief propaganda of the Nationa
Trade Defense Association will, I an
told, be devoted not SO much 20 defend
ing the trade as in attempting to per
suade the public that its liberty is i'm
periled. The story of the S50,000,00l
of American money which was TO b,
used TO make "Old England Dry" viii
be kept before the public, in order tina
no opportunity Of pointing out that i
is America which is interfering in this
matter for purely dog in the manger'
purposes may be lost.
With reference to that report "The
Globe" saws: