The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-14
VETS TOO LATE
TO wreck LAW;
HAPGOOD FINDS
Says Anti-Dry Campaign Max
ing No Progress Toward
Beer and Light Wines.
By NORMAN HAPGOOD.

BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.
| AS we look over the contest that
has been going on in Washington
over the liquor question during the
last half year, II 10 evident that the
anti.prohibitionists have made no
progress.
Neither legislators nor administra.
tive officials are ready to fly In the
face Of the obvious meaning OF
constitutional amendment.
Argument by the ton has gone on
over beer and light wine, and the at
tempt has been made to weaken en-.
forcen1ent by the form, In which
medical rules might be laid down,
The trouble with the whole campaign
of the vets has been that 1t has been
a mixture Of hypocrisy and belated-
ness.
Washington itself is a favorable at
mosphere in which to carry on wet
campaign. Fashionable society II
naturally wet and Warrington has
been more fashionable this last win
ter than In any winter since 1919
1918
President Wilson shut down firmly
on fashionable life. He looked on
fashion and big business as natural
allies and both Of them as the enc
mics Of what he was working for.
He would have nothing TO do with
the country club, which 10 the focus
OF fashionable life on Its country
side.
or the two city clubs that are
weli-known, most Of his cabinet were
! constantly seen at the mere intel
lectual. less wealthy of the two.
while today the other club Is the
place to look for cabinet members.
Know Nations Sentiment.
But although Congressman and
Senators moved In a fashionable and
anti-prohibition atmosphere, In 90
far as they found their way into the
social life Of the town at all, they
knew enough about tho country At
large to realize that for the most Of
them. wet efforts would mean disas-
ter.
Washington was full Of squealing
about personal liberty and other
quaint synonyms for the interest In
liquor. but they were like the bark
ing Of a dog that knew he was not
going to bite. The dominating fact
was that constitutional amendment
had been passed, after something
like half a century of agitation. and
that the purpose and meaning OF
that amendment were perfectly clear.
/ am not writing an argument In
favor OF prohibition as an original
| question. Personally should not
have been sorry to see something
like the Swedish method Of control
tried first, but 1t was not tried.
Those who are now interfering WIN
the successful operation of prohibh
ton never lifted hand to cure the
hy lAAa
drastic control.
Welcomes No Argument.
First. we had the original prohibi-
| tionists, who talked to US in moral.
general terms about wtckedness.
They died out, having accomplished
little. Then came forces like the
Anti.Saloon League. putting the en-
| phasis on the definite cost of drink.
on what II cost in lowered real estate
values. in the encouragement II gave
| to gambling, to prostitution, to cor
ruption, in politics and in the way 1t
populated jails and insane asyiums.
Along at the same time came the
argument from the increased complf-
| cation of machinery. Nobody wanted
chauffeur who drank, Railroad
managers did not want locomotive en-.
gineers who drank.
more and more intricately related ma
chinery struck the heaviest blow Of
all to the doctrine Of laissez-faire In
personal habits.
In the South there was the special
cause that rapidly caused the passing
Of prohibition laws in these States.
| A negro crazed with drink was more
dangerous than q negro deadened
with cocaine.
After three-fourths Of the country
had gcne dry on such considerations
the constitutional amendment was
passed. To pass an amendment un
der our Constitution is no light job.
II represented the settled determine
ton that had been growing steadily
without setback.
Question Closed.
The opposition has been talking
nonsense. II has tried to get back
to the original question, which Is no
longer open When careful and
serious decision OF this kind has been
taken by the people It is up to those
Of us who were doubtful about 1t to
recognize that the majority has the
right to have its policy tried out with
the cooperation Of all good citizens.
including those who were OF the OPP
posite opinion.
The difficulties in enforcement are
not hurting the cause OF prohibition.
| They are hurting tho standing Of
these elements that refuse to give the
new policy a decent chance-
For long time I have been study
| ing the liquor question over the
world. particularly In France, Great
Britain and the Scandinavian coun.
tries, and tomorrow I shall sketch the
facts "a I have seAn them.