The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-23
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HASKIN. d
washington, d. C.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES oRGANIzF

lSOClation ZOE me purpose OF flgh{1ng
| federal prohibition has been organized
in Washington under the title OF the
Association Against the Prohibition
/ Amendment
Such an organization seems the 1ogi-
cal and orderly expression of the ep4
position to national prohibition. 1t is
certainly more desirable, even from
the standpoint of a dry. that the an
tagonism to prohibition should express
itself in this way. rather thanyfn in
dividual acts of lawlessness.
This association proposes to fight
prohibition by seeking to get a balance
of power in each congressional dis
triet, and so influencing congress to
repeal the Volstead act and ultimate
ly the prohibition amendment It
favors local option and believes that
intelligent regulation of the liquor
traffic in accordance with local con-
ditions and opinions is desirable.
Since the Anti-Saloon league has
been given the widest publicity in It's
fight on the liquor traffic, it seems
only fair that the existence OF this
organization for those who oppose pro-
hibition should also be made known
to all who are interested. Its address
is the Munsey Building. Washington.
ID G
This organization takes the view
that prohibition accompanies much
good and that It deserves dignified
treatment ond serious consideration,
but that the present prohibition laws
are improper and dangerous. It
points out that conditions vary locally
and that any law which enables the
residents of one section to say what
those of another section may eat and
drink is fundamentally unfair and in
violation of the principles of state and
Individual rights. 1t further sets forth
the claim. that the present prohibition
laws are unpopular with the majority
of voters. and were passed thru the
efforts OF highly organized and eff
ciently working minority.
For Repeal of Volstead Act.
The first object of the organization
is to have the Volstead Act repealed,
and to have legislation passed in Its
place which will leave the enforcement
of the eighteenth amendment. SO long
aset remains in force. to the people
of the several states under the concur
rent clause Its ultimate object is to
procure the repeal of the Prohibition
Amendment
The ass6eIation is nen-partisan and
non-sectarian and both men and
women are eligible to membership.
Brewers, distillers and all others who
have made their living from the liquor
trade are ineligible to voting member
ship, so that the association may not
fairly be accused of financial interest
in it's work. 1t is further provided
that no officer of the association shall
be saiaried, and that money shall not
be paid for lobbying nor to any Off
cial.
This association does not ask a man
to pledge himself to vote under any
and all circumstances only for cam
didates who oppose prohibitions; but it
asks him to sign a statement of his at
titude on the question, and to vote
for anti-prohibition candidates as
often as possible. It does not seek to
form a new party or to destroy any
mans present party affiliation.
The main activities of the associa-
ton will be directed to the forming
of local organizations and the recruit
ing of members. 1t will exert its in
flaence chiefly by the simple expedi-
ent of bringing to the attention of
number of voters in given districts
who have affiliated themselves with
the movement against prohibition.
The prime mover in the organization
is William H. Stayton, president of the
Baltimore Steamship company. He
has obtained the Endorsement of long
list of prominent men for his associa-
ton, among them two former United
States senators-Weeks of Massachu
sets, and Salisbury of Delaware.
Docs Prohibition Work?
The activities of this. organization
should certainly bring into the open
the arguments against prohibition.
Many of these are heard in private,
but few of them seem to, get into the
public prints, so thatfthey are not sub
jected to critical examination There
is the claim, for example, often heard
but not made by this association. that
prohibition has not worked. A wet
and a dry can debate this question all
day and reach no agreement. Many
sections of the country can be pointed
out in which prohibition has undoubt-
eddy worked great good. While it is
hard to find a city or section where |
no considerable Illicit business in !
liquor is done, there are many places |
where the consumption of liquor has
been greatly reduced. and with it the !
number of arrests for drunkenness |
and other evils. The wet can reply to !
this evidence by pointing to numerous |
sections where DRINKS are as numer- !
Gus as ever, and where an enormous |
Illicit business is done, with the at |
tendant evil that liquor is sold without |
any regulation. AS result of this. |
all sorts of poisonous concoctions get |
into circulation, and a large criminal |
business with large profits is organ
lied. Thousands of persons are maxi |
ing. easy money out of Illicit liquor !
sales who never committed a lawless |
act before.
Those who favor some form of local |
option claim that this varying success
of enforcement is the best proof that |
local option is the logical form of |
prohibition. They claim that most of |
the places which are really almost dry
now were equally dry before the ma
tlonal amendment became a law, while /
most of those which were then wet are
still wet. In other words. they say
that neither this law nor any other
law can be enforced except where it
has the substantial endorsement of
public opinion.
Is Booze Hard to Get?
The dry is very apt to rebut all this
by the assertion that even where law
is most difficult, a great
many persons are unable to get alco-
hol because of the prohibitive price.
Against this may be brought the fact |
that the manufacture of liquor in