New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-11
England Going
Dry Is Adieu
OF ussyfoot'
Prohibition Crusader, OH Eve
Of Sailing for U. S., Says
Most of Scotland Will
Quit Liquor in the Fall
Irish to Desert Rum
America Never Will Returu
TO 'SWet'' Status, Johnson
Declares, Defyins Protests
By rank Getty

FfoD, Tho Tribunes Europeon Bursou
I.opyr!ght. 1920. New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, April 1O.-"England is
going dry"
This will be "Pussyfoot" Johnson's
farewell message to the country in
which he has conducted his fight for
prohibition during the last year when
he sails for New York next Tuesday.
His visit to the united States prob
ably will last three months. He will
attend TO personal matters, will con-
suit with .Anti-Saloon League leaders
and make speeches in different parts
Of the country.
In an interview tonight Mr. Johnson
summed up his views of the fight
against alcohol as follows:
The majority of the Scottish bor-
oughs are going dry in November.
England is going to follow suit far
sooner than any one opposed to pro-
hibition would believe possible.
In surprisingly few years pro-
hibition will be in force in the entire
civilized world.
Delighted With Success
"Pm delighted with the success of
my years work over here" said pussy.
foot "Weve been able to accomplish
more than we ever thought possible in
such short time. This is a demo-
cratic country, but so far the drink
question hasn't been in the hands of
the people. 1t is controlled by vested
interests. Just as soon as the people
are allowed to vote they'll adopt the
local veto, and events will follow one
another in much the same way as they
did in the United States 1t wouldn't
surprise me if hard liquor is first
Topped off, then spirits and then wines
and beer.
Let them talk about the climate.
Why, we've worse climates than this in
many of the States. What about
Alaska? They tell you they drink to
keep warm, but drink doesn't keep 'em
warm. In Alaska they voted dry two
to one. In Porto Rico they did their
drinking to keep cool. but it didn't
keep 'cm cool. Porto Rico went dry.
In Scotland we've been unusually sue
cessful, and the majority of the bor-
oughS are going dry under local op-
ton. Prohibition will spread.
"Many towns over $4,000 inhabitants
arc going dry The fact is. they've
almost taken the lead from the small
country districts where the tavern
system somewhat obstructs prohibi-
ton. ] don't expect any of the larger
cities to go dry completely. but sew
eral wards in Glasgow and Edinburgh
will unquestonably do so.
Ireland May Quit Liquor
"Ircand is another place in which
VIC are certainly on the road to sue
cess. Whether Ireland gets one parlia-
ment or two it will vote for local op-
then prohibition. Twcr y-three of
twcnty-six Ulster members of Parlia-
ment, including Sir Edward Carson,
have pledged their support to prohib
ton, and whle the Sim ttincrs are
mostly in jail they'll be for it when
trey come out.
".Iust as sure as ireland gets CON
troll Of her own affairs she will start
a NOV" toward prohibition. That's
just what England needs sel1deter-
mnation as far as the drink ques-
Divisional Conference Of independent
| abor voted 81 to 80 in favor OF total
prohibition and labor is going to ba
the biggest help in making this coun-
try dry No outside influence is going
to make England dry just give her a
chance TO do it for herself"
what chance is there OF the lnits
States going wet again ?' "Pussyfoot"
was asked.
"Not tho slightest" he replied. eve
expect to have 4 d"ht on our hands to
SEQ the enforcement OF prohibition
during the next two wears. But wc
went through the same thing az each
state went dry, so we know just what
to expect. in order to go wet it
would be necessary to get two-thirds
majority in each house and then ra.-
hcation by three fourths of the states.
That's big job, we know.
In conclusion Johnson, who is look
ing fit after a long holiday. said: ~
am leaving this country with migh'y
pleasant taste in my mouth The
people have been unusually kind and
mighty fine to me. ! cont hold tnc
slightcst' grudge in connection wi'n
The incident that cost ma my eye 1t
- ino country and IL will be finer
when she goes dry"