Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-14
nti-Prohibitionists
Organize
By Frederic j. Haskin

Washington, ID. c., Sept. I4.--An asso
ciation for the purpose of fighting Fed
cral prohibition has been organized IL
Washington under the tito Of the Asso
citation Against the Prohibition Amend
meat
Such an organization seems the logica
and orderly expression of the opposition
10 onational prohibition. Ii is certainly mor
desirable, even from the standpoint of q
dry. that the antagonism to prohibition
should express itself in this way, rather
than in individual acts Of lawlessness.
This association proposes to fight pro.
hihtion by seeking to get balance OF
power in each congressional district, and
so influencing Congress to repeal the Vol
stead Act and ultimately the Prohibition
Amendment. 1t favors local option and
believes that intelligent regulation of the
liquor traffic in accordance with local
conditions and opinions is desirable.
Since the Anti-Saloon League has been
given the widest publicity in its fight ON
the liquor traffic, it seems only fair that
the existence of this organization for those
who oppose prohibition should also be
made known to all who are interested.
Its address is the Munsey Building,
Washington, ID. c.
prohibition accomplishes much goofd and
that il deserves dignihcd treatment and
serious consideration, but that the present
prohibition laws are improper and danger
GUS IL 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 viola-
tion Of the principles of State and individ-
ual rights. 1t further sets forth the claim
that the present prohibition laws are un-
popular with the majority of voters, and
were passed through the efforts of a highly
organized and efficiently working mi
nority.
voR RErAAL OF voIsrKAp ACT.
The first object of the organization is TO
havc the Volstcad Act repealed, and to
have legislation passed In it's place which
VII leave the enforcement of the eigh-
teenth amendment, so long as it remains
IN foroe, to the people of the several States
under the concurrent clause. Its ultimate
object is to procure the repeal of the Pro-
hibition Amen dment.
The associa ton Is non-partsan and
non-sectarian and both men and women
are eligible 20 membership. Brewers, dis
tillers and all others who have made their
ttNliiEc tIOtii Tit HAiQtl lloQt tit
BILE 10 voting membership, so that the
association may not fairly be accused of
financial interest in its work is further
provided that no officer of the association
shall be salaried, and that money shall
not be paid for lobbying nor to any
official.
This association does not ask a man
to pledge himself TO vote under any and
all circumstances only for candidates who
oppose prohibition; but il asks him to sign
n statement of his attitude on the ques-
ton, and 10 vote for anti-prohibition
candidates as often as possible. 1t does
not seek TO form a new party or to destroy
any mans present party affiliation.
The main activities of the association
will be directed TO the forming of local
organizations and the recruiting of me1n-
bers. IL will exert its influence chiefly
by the simple expedient of bringing TO the
attention of candidates and of party
leaders the number of voters In given
districts who have affiliated themselves
with the movement against prohibition.
The prime mover in the organization is
William III. Stsyton, president OF the
Baltimore Steamship Company. He has
obtained the Endorsement of a long list of
prominent men for his association,
among them two former United States
Senators-Week of Massachusetts and
salisbury Of Delaware.
DOES PROHIBITION WORK.
The activities of this organization
should certainly bring into the open the
arguments against prohibition. MANY Of
these IRE heard in private but few of them
seem 20 get into the public prints, so
that they are not subjected to critical
examination. There is the claim, for
often heard but not made by this
that prohibition has not
worked. wet and dry can debate this
question all day and reach no agreement.
Many sections of the country can be
pointed out in which prohibition has un-
worked great good. While |
t Is hard 70 find city or a section where |
no considerable illicit business in huuor |
is done, there are many places where the |
Of liquor has been greatly |
and with it the number of arrests |
for drunkenness and other evils The wets I
can reply to this evidence by pointing to |
sections where drunks are as
as ever, and where an enormous
Illicit business rs done, with the attendant /
Evil that liquor IS sold without any regula-
ton. As a result Of this, all sorts of /
poisonous cOncoctlons get into circulation,
md large criminal business with large
'rofits Is organized. Thousands of per
ons are making easy money out of illicit
liquor sales, who never committed a law
ess act before
Those who favor some form of loca
ption claim that this varying success Of
is the best proof that loc al
ption is the logical form of prohibition.
hey claim that most of the places which
re really almost dry now were equally
~ before the national amendment be-