New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-29
Says It's Easy,
To Get Liquor
! In Big Cities
Statement of Association
Opposed to Prohibition
Declares That Price Is
Only Requisite for Drink
Survey on Enforcement
Law Most Rigidly Upheld
in Communities Where
Sentiment Demands 1t

Those who have the price still find
it comparatively easy to get drink in
New York or any Of the other large
cities of the country, the Association
in a statement issued yesterday.
This organization, which has head
quarters at 10 West Forty-fourth
Street, has just completed an inquiry
into the effect of Constitutional pro-
hibition. 1t says it finds that "few
people in this country except prohibit
tion fanatics and those who make their
living in the endeavor to perpetuate the
Anti-Saloon League. are in favor of
constitutional prohibition" It. sum-
marizes it's investigation as follows:
81. Constitutional prohibition has been
enforced most rigidly where, the pro-
hibition enforcement organization be-
lieved it could be most easily enforced
and where it was believed there was
sentiment for rigid enforcement.
Naturally therefore, we have found the
most rigid enforcement in states which
have been dry or approximately dry
for several years. 1t has been notori-
Gus that the people of the so-called dry
states have been able, by hook and by
crook, to obtain what they wanted to
drink, at any hour of the day or night.
They pushed the button and the boot
logger did the rest They know now
what constitutional prohibition means
and they don't like it..
". There has been no attempt at
rigid enforcement of the law in most
of the larger cities, because the senti-
ment in those centers of population is
overwhelmingly opposed to constitu-
tional prohibition. If one knows how
and where and has the price, he has
little difficulty in obtaining his favor
lite tipple in New York, Boston, Chi
cago. New Orleans, San Francisco,
Philadelphia or any of the other large
cities.
Felonies on the Increase
49, The prohibitionists have endeav-
ored to show that crime has materially
decreased since the Eighteenth Amend
ment become operative. That is not true,
but it is also untrue that the figures
available are Of such authority and char
acter as to enable a statistican to form
any safe conclusion as to the effect of
constitutional prohibition on the morals
of the country. The figures do show
pronounced falling off in the class of
cases Familiarity known in the police
courts as DRINKS and dsorderlies. On
the other hand, crimes of the magnitude
of felonies have very greatly increased.
But the successful and prosperous safe
breaker or second-story man doesn't
usually get drunk before he begins
work.
"a. The breeders of unrest, class hat
red and labor disturbances suddenly
have become ardent prohibitionists and
active supporters of the Anti-Saloon
League because they have found that
the Eighteenth Amendment as one more
evidence OF the endeavor of the ruling
class to deprive the laborer of yet an
other of the prerogatives of freemen.
$50 it happens that, as result of
nearly three months of national pro-
hibition, the Association Opposed to
National Prohibitions has found that
few people in this country, except
prohibition fanatics and those who
make their living in the endeavor to
perpetuate the Anti-Saloon League, are
On the other hand, the saloon, as it
has been conducted in this country,
has almost as few friends as consti-
tutlonal prohibition. In other words,
the investigation seems to show that
The people of the various states desire
no feeders for psychopathic wards.
but they do wish to buy and consume
what they wish to drink as they do
buy and consume what they wish to
eat under restriction of such laws as
they themselves have approved. What
o.
late their own affairs in their own
communities in their own way. They
wish to determine by their own votes
whether they shall live wet or live
dry, and they are beginning to de-
mana That the national government
keep off the grass Of state rights and
the constitutional liberties of the cit
liens Of the states.
Point to Anti-Tobacco Campaipn
Inc anti-tobacco campaign of the
Woman's Christion Temperance Union.
aided and abetted by the Anti-Saloon
League, is being watched very narrowly
ny the friends of constitutional lib
erty, and they are amazed that the
Trends OF tobacco seem to regard the
c,usaoe OF this organization with COM
p.ecen g and placidity, which is ex-
ae1Iy the same attitude the LIQUOR in.
terests took twenty-fv fifteen, ten and
even nve years ago regarding the atti-
tude OF the Anti-Saloon League. Anti
constitutional prohibitionses have be.
come convinced that if the friends of to.
oacco do not grid up their loins and
grid them quickly the Woman's Chris
tan Temperance Union will have made
good It's threat to annihilate the entira
tobacco industry and make this a to.
Daccoless country in or before 1924
the year In which the organization will
celebrate its semi-centennial. And wher
this has been accomplished the Anti.
Tea and Coffee league, headed by Pro.
lessor Frederick William Roman. head
OF the department of economics of
Syracuse University, will be ready tn
continue the work of amending the
Constitution in order that paid pron.
agandists may still have Jobs. though
they breech the very foundation Of ,na
Republic. '- '"s
THE reports received by the associa-
ton seem to show that most Of the
people in most of the states purpose no
longer to be exploited by either the No.
ntical sandbaggers Of the Anti-Saloon
League or the political jobbers. who
agree on candidates for Office in thu
back room of saloon. The inquiry
shows that at every election from that
held November 4, 1919. to the present
time whenever prohibition, directly or
indirectly, has been an issue, prohibition
has been routed, horse, foot and dra-
goons. The handwriting is on the
wall"
William H. Anderson. superintendent