The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-05-06
SUBSTITUTE COMMON SENSE
LAWS FOR 18TH AMENDMENT


Seattle wash. April II. 1921
Editor The star. referring To the
various questions raised In The
stars editorial OF Saturday under
tho heading of THE National Crime.
IL would seem TO the writer that
your questions have already been
answered In part Mt least In your
own article on this subject In the
April sth issue OF The Star.
The general wave of bookkeeping
which In steadily incrcasing thruout
the entire country. clearly proves
that there IL IA demand for Illicit
llquor far In excess OF tho available
supply. n demand which seemingly
takea no coFnlzance 81 the general
business depression turnout ue
country.
Such facts IA are available regard
ing the Illicit sale and purchase OF
liquor thruout the land. clearly
prove that literally millions upon
millions OF our citizens. rich ana
poor alike. are wiifully and repeat
eddy breaking the law established by
IN. 18th amendment and similar
state laws.
In view OF this self evident condi'
ton, arc we therefore 10 assume
that these millions OF citizens have
Deliberately become criminals over
night and that they have lost nil re-
npcct for constituted law and order
In our land? /, for one. refuse to
believe such 90 be the caHa. else our
fair nation would indeed be facing
dark and stormy days-days that
might indeed lead us TO the know
not where" Of tho incipient reyolu-
tionisis OF 1919. what. therefore.
are We 20 nEsurneT
Now. Mr. Editor, you and I both
know that. whereas there are I'M
doubtedly n good many people who
never use Intoxicating liquor In any
form, that there are at least AN
equal number. II not more. who do
use IL more or less. and In the pres
cnt tense. We know. too. II We stop
10 reflect impartialiy. tina, whereas
h has come 20 a pass where few p~o.
plo dare to express themselves pub.
licly on account OF the fear OF the
powerful Influence Of the prohibi.
ton element both In politics and In
all walks Of commercial life. that II
questioned privately. three out Of
every four will definitely express
themselves as considering absolute
prohibition n very grave and serious
mistake Yc, We are bound 10 admit
In ali fairness, that ono class OF
these people fthe wctal in just as
clean. just as moral and jus, as
high type 81 citizen AS the other
TIN. dryHl. We know that In times Of
stress the vets will be found rid. by
side with the dryH. staunchiy defend.
ins their native land and all II
stands for. and we know that In
the performance OF their civic duties
and the conduct OF their daily lives
in their communities In their homes
and In their religious circles. that no
difference exists between these two
ciararn.
Why IN II then that fhesr other.
wise iawabIdinx. God fearing cit.
zcns. are deliberately breaking. or n,
tho very icas; winking at the break.
ing OF this one law Of our country.
In over Increasing nurnbersf The
answer appears to be obvious, That
Il In for the same reason that aincr
tho dawn Of history. rcd-bioosscd man
has EVER bern prone 10 resent and
to ignore. II nos actually break. laws
that he knew 10 be founded. not
upon tho justice Of either divine or
natural law. but coming from the
weii-spring Of radical se-tionaiixsn or
Of n purftanicsi fanaticism---laws
which have been enacted not because
81 any inherent morality or any real
necessity for their being. but due
entirely to the powerfully cntrcnchcd
political position Of a super orran.
iEod. propaganda spreading. legisla-
tive controlling minority, guided
only by that blind bigotry which
recognizes no right nor principle.
neither human or divine, other than
thar which IL. In It's intolicranf ego
usm. has act up like a golden calf.
for all men to bow to or be de-
stroyed.
In other words. the average Amer.
lean citizen resonts the injustice Of
n law that his Intelligence tells him
In directly opposed TO tho letter and
the spirit Of the constitution OF the
United States as originally drawn
an amendment which In actual effect
annuls the original constitution. and
which Mt the same time violates all
the principles OF true Christianity. In
a country that has pridcd itself. and
Justly NO. upon being a Christian
country--a Law. which in states like
our own. even prohibits the use OF
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