Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-09-07
Anti-PrOhibitiOniSts
Organize
By Frederic !. Haskin

Qr0nlDlt1On has been Or
gained in Washington under the
title of the Association Against the
prohibition Amendment.
SUCH an organization seems the
logical and orderly expression of the
opposition to national prohibition. 1t
IS certainly more desirable, even from
the standpoint of a dry, that the
antagonism to prohibition should ex-
press itself in this way; rather than
in individual acts of lawlessness.
This association proposes to fight
prohibition by seeking to get a bal
ance of power in each congressional
district, and so influencing congress
to repeal the Volstead act and ulti-
mately the prohibition amendment. 1t
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
its fight on the liquor traffic, it
OF this organization for those who
oppose prohibition should also be
made known to all who are interest
ed. Its address is the Munsey build
ing, Washington, D. c..
This organization takes the view
that prohibition accomplishes much
good and that it deserves dignified
Il I11ACuI anu oCIlOuo
but that the present prohibition laws
are improper and dangerous. 1t
points out that conditions vary To-
| cally and that any law which enables
the residents of one section to say
what those of another section may
eat and drink is fundamentally I'M
fair and in violation of the princi-
Piles of state and individual 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 highly organized and efficiently
working minority.
For Repeal Of volstead Act
The first object of the organiZa-
| ton is to have the Volstead act re-
pealed, and to have legislation pass
ed in it's place which will leave the
enforcement of the eighteenth amend
ment, so long as it remains in force
| to the people of the several states
under the concurrent clause. It's ul-
! innate object is to procure the repeal
of the prohibition amendment.
The association is nonpartisan and
en- are eligible to membership. Brew
ers, distillers and all others who
have made their living from the
LIQUOR trade are Ineligible to voting
membership, so that the association
may not fairly, be accused OF a IL
|
further provided that no officer of
the association shall be salaried, and
that money shall not be paid Tor
lobbying nor to any official.
This association does not ask man
to pledge himself to vote under any
and all circumstances only, for can
didates who oppose prohibition; put
it asks him to sign statement OF
his attitude on the question, and to
vote for anti-prohibition candidates
as often as possible. 1t does not
seek to form a new party or to de-
stroy any mans present party af-
filiation.
The main activities of the assoc a.
ton will be directed to the forming
of local organizations and the re-
cruiting of members. It will exert
it's Influence chiefly by the simple
ton of candidates and of party Ieaa-
ers the number of voters in gwen
districts who have affiliated them.
selves with the movement against
prohibition. ,,o.
tion is William H. Stayton, president
of the Baltimore Steamship com
pany. He has obtained the 1ndorse-
ment of a long list of prominent men
for his association, among them Two
former United States senators
Weeks. of Massachusetts,, and Sauls-
bury, of Delaware.
Does Prohibition work.
The activities of this organization
should certainly bring into the open
the arguments against prohlpItIon'
Many of these are heard in private.
but few Of them seem to get INTO
the public prints. so that they are
not subjected to critical examination
There is the old claim, for example,
often heard, but not made by TINS
association, that prohibition has not
- g.
bate this question all day and reach
no agreement. Many sections OF the
country can be pointed out in which
prohibition has undoubtedly. WORKED
great good. While it is hard to ma
a city or a section where no con-
siderable 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 nu-
as numerous as ever, and where an
enormous illicit business is done,
with the attendant evil shat liquor
is sold without any regulation. AS
a result of this, all sorts OF poison
Gus connections get into circulation.
and large criminal business with
large profits is organized. Thousands
Of persons are making easy money
cut of illicit liquor sales, who never
committed a lawless act before.
Those who favor some form Of To-
cal 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 De-
fore the national 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 GetP
The dry is very apt to rebut all
this by the assertion that even where
law enforcement is most difficult a
great many persons are unable to get
price. Against this may be brought
the fact that the manufacture OF
liquor in homes, which is undouor-
eddy a growing practice, is much
cheaper than the buying of 1t was
even before prohibition. Distilled
cheaply, and inexpensive stills are
publicly advertised and may be OBJ
tanned by anyone.
Certainly a threshing out of this
question of whether national prohi-
most most needed. The law will after ali F
stand or fall in the long run more
on it's practical results than on the
theoretical considerations involved.
Whatever else it may accomplish,
ty, which should be welcomed by all.
including the prohibitionists, for
those who oppose prohibition to show
their strength and courage. If they
have a majority, it is right and de-
sirable that they should come for
ward and prove the fact.
First American Horse