The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1921-12-30
Davenport in Suspense.

Rumors have reached Davenport, where
| elaborate preparations have been made for
the celebration of New Years eve. that pro-
hibition agents are headed in the direction of
that city and are due during the time of
| the scheduled reVelries.
| 1t is easy to understand the suspense that
is being suffered among Iowa neighbors as
| a result of this rumor. 1t is said to have re-
suited in cancellation of reservations at hotels,
clubs and restaurants by the more cautious
ones Thus many Davenport homes that would
have been dark on New Years eve are to be
| bright because of the possibility of invasion
| by representatives of Uncle Sam.
We don't know why anyone should be
afraid to be caught by a federal agent in 4
hotel club restaurant in Davenport on New
Years eve, unless those planning attendance
at the public celebrations expected to violate
the prohibition law
Our Davenport neighbors are no different
than folks in any other city. There are among
them those who feel that they ought to be per
mitted to celebrate the new year in the good
old-fashioned way inasmuch as there is plenty
of liquor to be had and they have the money to
pay for it. Be that as it may, the government
has the power to make it decidedly uncomfoFt-
able for those discovered in a public place
with anything on the hip 1t is not understood
that any of the Davenport places meant to at
tempt an individual violation of the law. The
understanding was that guests were to be per
mitted to carry their own"
Among the places where large New Years
eve parties are to be entertained in Davenport
is the Chamber of Commerce After hearing of
the rumored federal invasion a notice was
posted in the chamber rooms to the effect
that guest would be allowed to bring liquor
the premises. That's an awful jolt for our
personal liberty friends in Davenport, bat
they'll have to grow accustomed to such joIts
the same the rest of the country.
Reference to Davenport is here made sim
ply to further show how ridiculous prohibition
has become under the plan of enforcement
being followed by the government. The Vol
stead law allows the use of liquor for medi-
cal purposes, and to be dispensed only by ply
sician's prescription. Yet it is possible that
in the tri-citiy community there are more than
hundred places where liquor is sold openly
in any quantity desired without the required
physicians prescription. The government is
inviting ridicule of itself when it assumes to
tell man that he drink whiskey only
when his physician says he is i'll and needs it.
The rumor that has come to Davenport
simply will spoil New Years eve for a lot OF
people who had planned tc celebrate it in their
own way. The medical profession is almost un-
agreed that whisky is not essential
to human health. Therefore there is no valid
reason why the government should permit its
sale, under any circumstances while the pro-
hibition clause remains in the constitution |
The only way to prevent the consumption of |
whisky is to stop making it and to confiscate |
and destroy every gollon held in the ware |
houses of the country. Then, and not till then, |
will America have prohibition