The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-27
Letters to the
Editor
SAYS PROHIBITION
BOUND TO SUCCEED

Editor The Star. After taxing soms
little time 10 consider and investi
gate. I take pleasure In awaiting my
self Of your invitation 10 srprens my
vicws and observations on the pro
hlbition problem. and viii start with
the proposition that the elimination
of the saloon, like the abolition OF
slavery. was an Incident In The
progress OF civilization. and in re-
habllitation would b . backward
step. as would the rc-cnalavement OF
the ooiorcd race.
Al the close OF the rivfl war there
was a desperuie effort made 20 dis
credit and nullify tho abolition Of
slavery. and laws were passed apply
ing specially 20 negroes. no that mill
tary commnn dorr ordered thai laws
should be made 10 apply 10 white and
black alike. IL was claimed that the
negroes werr not prepared for citi.
rsnahip: but the farther we get away
tho more absurd would seem the suE
E~rtion of re-snniayrment- A. the
celebration ~ the 5oth anniversary Of
the victory at Appomattox. an sS'
confederate soldier declared that the
victory was n victory for humanity.
We appear now 20 BE- In n wave OF
crime Tho prohibitory hquor law
IL not the only law that appears To
be violated with impunity. burglary
and highway robbery have become n
regular industry. Do,s anybody pro
pose a relaxation Of the lnw as .
r~medy, Rather a morn vigorous
erecution OF the law: and an official
Of the law Of considerable experiences
with boot1eggers declares that the
general sentiment appears 10 favor =
more vigorous or rigorous enforce
ment Of the liquor laws.
Numerous inquiries. particularly Of
veterans OF the eivfl war. fail To find
anyone that ever heard Of a lone
bandit or two holding up a store. n
bank or n car full OF pasrse myers BE-
fore the civil war. The holding up
Of a stage on the plains by band OF
India'A led by = white man was
about the nearest thing 10 IT, At the
close OF the civil war the James and
Younger boys Of Missouri faneied
they had a grievance and took 20
banditry 20 retrieve their fortunes.
and demonstrated what q couple OF
n~ryy. determined men could do In
tho way % t~rrorixinr the unarrned.
and my theory In that their example
was the chief inspiration TO the
growth OF the industry.
War has the tendency 10 weaken
regard for human life. and bolshev.
tarn and I. w. w ism have weakened
the regard for the rights OF property.
and the economic rsr~rr has contrib
u,~d 20 their propaganda. as well a.
driven many into the Illicit traffic In
liquor and other narroticr- II IL 20
be hoped that the cr~ss OF the wave
has been reached az not parsed. and
with the return TO normally and
prosperity q large portion Of this
iawieas eicmrn, VII find other ave
niue. for their activity: and the con-
senrus OF opinion. outside Of those In
flu~no~d by appetite or avar4oe. mast
certainly Ia. that the rehabilitation Of
the saloon would Augment the com-
mission of crfme-As u Always Cd
inssnAd Of reducing T.
Tho world vsx gavs . tYvmrn1osn
boors 10 the tobacco tyrsst for the
consumption Of cisareta. the eifrnsna-
ton Of which would b . Grand STRIP
IN the prcgrW9 Of cfvfiixafiou-And
why mott Tiss whole smoke bannenu
In . rriic Of hArbartun. and far mcr~
unnatural than the taste for liquor.
and were IL not that Everybody In
doing IL II would be considered self.
i.h and impollte 20 poliuse the at.
moephero with the fumes Of 'ohac.
take secondhand dissipation.
J. NJ GRIFFITH.