The New York herald., 1921-01-16

NEW YORK HERALD BUREAU,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. Is.
tn HE first full year of national prohi-
bition, completed to-day, finds John
= Barleycorn alive and kicking In
fact he is kicking so hard that the nation
is faced withsa live issue that will last for
Many years to come.
In general the results of the first dry
year for the nation are an intriguing and
entangling mass of facts, figures and opin-
ions, advanced conyincingly from many
points of view.
There Is one outstanding and generally
agreed fact. The United States is not dry.
Even the most ardent supporters of prohi-
bition agree that 1t is not. Prohibition
Commissioner John F. Kramer, officially
the highest authority and privately sup
porter Of the law says that 1t will never
be. At the same time he declares prohibi
tion is here to stay. but with a fight.
Liquor in one form or another can be
purchased most everywhere. This is not
successfully denied. Any citizen, anywhere,
with the price can prove 1t. Those who
think wet say that this proves that prohi-
bition does not prohibit Those who think
dry say that it will and price is the barom-
eter II the latter contention Is right, the
end is inevitable. The barometer is going
up. The price in some places is SIS a
quart. which to large percentage Of citi-
zenry is already prohibitive.
4I 900 900 Proof Gallons Consumed
In Year, Not Counting Home Brew
However, there Is one outstanding off,
cal fact in the record of the first years
operations. In 1920 the American people,
or the imbibing portion of the people, drank
or In some manner consumed approximately
Al 100000 proof gallons of distilled spirits.
This is the official total compiled by the
Internal Revenue Bureau. 1t does not In
cude the untold and uncounted gallons of
home brew and various and sundry liquors
Intoxicating to more or less degree that
were brewed, distilled or concocted at home
or made and pedded by bootleggers.
There Is left in officially bonded ware
houses n rather imposing quantity Of dis
filled spirits-officially 51.537 POI proof
gallons at the end of November-and spirits
are still being made Three distileres
are making whisxey, scores Of others are
making alcohol. whskey, gin, brandy, wine
and other beverages are stored In 37S ware
houses scattered all over the country, many
of them, according to official statement,
without adequate protection.
out of the general conflict OF figures,
statements and opinions come these copclu-
sions:
The United States Is not dry.
There is much whiskey and other alco-
hoic beverages In the land and much OBJ
tainable.
whiskey-. good whiskey-is
hard to get and too high for the average
pocketbook
Saloons are gone, perhaps forever
The little ditty:
Hush. little barroom. don't you cry
you'll be drug store by and bye"
has been revised. Many little drug stores
have become barrooms. Not in the old
sense. but because they are surreptitious
drinking places
Bootlegglng and whiskey running have
become ap industry--an evil industry, II
YOU will-but n rather widespread occupa-
tion. and one that brings no contumely in
many quarters.
There has ensued debauchery of bri-
berry, theft and even murder and other high
crimes. and Illicit transactions, broad or
limited in the opinions pro and con.
Moral effect Is highly controversial.
Some OF the stanchest advocates Of prohi-
biton, notably Deets Picket OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal Reform Bureau. say that
the moral and crime factor Is Influenced by
the international wave of crime following
the war.
Rum running that died with the slave
traffic has been revived on both coasts and
along the borders.
Barroom drinking and the evils that fol-