The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-01-21
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1921
PROHIBITION IN NEW YORK


ed it is in New York City. In view of
this a statement from any response
BILE source which would seem to JUS
tify the enactment of the national
prohibition amendment, or to prom
Use the enforcement of laws made to
carry out the provisions of the a
mendment are interesting to those
who would like to see liquor driven
from the country. The statement is
more than interesting, it is encourag-
ing.
The New York Herald has been
investigating conditions under the
prohibition laws and has sought in
formation from all parts of the coun-
try on the effects of the law. Strange
as it may seem, most of the North
ern and Western cities report that
the law has been of great benefit,
while the mayors of some of the
Southern cities make a contrary re-
port. In Charleston, where nothing
succeeds unless he, she or it, comes
from Abbeville, Mayor Grace reports
conditions very much worse than they
would be with open bars. Perhaps in
many cases the reports embody the
individual opinions of those who
make them, rather than furnish a
correct statement of the real effects
arising from an enforcement, or an
attempted enforcement, of the law.
However these things may be, we
say it is encouraging to have the
judgment of great newspaper like
the New York Herald that prohibi-
ton is doing good and that the law
is going 10 be enforced. This is what
the Herald says:
1.-THE New York. Herald published
Sunday an illuminating account with
facts and figures of our first year of
national prohibition. While the rec
ord is not all that the friends of pro-
hibition could wish, nevertheless it
is perhaps quite as good in the situa-
ton as might have been expected by
close thinkers.
Conversely it is a record that will
e've hope to the millions of surface
;a.mk. 6 VINO ar: u:.t:,:y at war WIN
national prohibition. 1t will encour-
age the vigorous and determined an
ti-prohibition propaganda now of ma
tionwide scope that has the backing
Of unlimited money.
In the opinion of The New York
Herald, however, the opponents of
the Government in this fight against
national prohibition are certain to be
beaten in the end. The Government,
with its boundless resources, . will
compel obedience to it's laws. Defy
ing law of State is one thing; DEFY
ing the law of the national Govern
ment is quite another. "The mills of
the gods grind slowly, but grind cx-
ceeding fne," and so grind the mills
of the national Government.
So long as national prohibition is
embedded in the organic law Of the
land, just so long will America be /
dry except as her laws are broken |
and defed by her citizens. And law
breaking in the long run is bad
business for any one, especially bad
ifthe la& be a United States law.
SThe only way by which America
CAN again become legally wet is thru
aN NameaHHment to the Constitution. OF
the United States multiplying the
Eighteenth Amendment which declar-
ed for national prohibition. And
what does it mean to get through a
constitutional amendment? 1t means
that bill setting forth the proposed
amendment must be introduced in
Congress and passed by two-thirds
of both houses. This is the first step;
the second is much more difficult. 1t
requires the ratification of the meas
ure by three-quarters of the States of
the Union. Failing of such ratifica-
ton the measure falls by the way
side.
The trainers of this Government
were most wise in making it difficult
in the extreme to alter or amend our
national Constitution. In view of !
this very difficult process the wonder