New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
Prohibitions Future

pr0nlDluOn S / u(uEe
Messrs. Anders) n and Wheeler and
.sers responsible for the Eighteenth
Amendment and the Volstead and
MILAN Gage acts may be rated as
too intelligent to pc unaware of the
isct that prohio.t;on faces a crisis.
BIZ what is to occur during the early
uture it is likely to be determined
whether the system is to endure or is
| to break down through repeal or in
general non-enfo-cenent.
When the great experiment was
aunched there was 4 general dispo-
ision by the pubic even the part
vhich questioned rs success, to give
every chance. Enforcement laws
such as the friends Of prohibition
Wished were enacted about as
,guested. Public drinking places.
| aosed Consider ng everything, local
authorities did IS much toward en-
/ twcement as reasonably could be ex-
pcted. On the whole, as prohibition
saders at the time gladly testified,
here was an impressive demonstra-
ion Of obedience 10 the law.
cinca = stead : and acceleratinc
trift backward seems to have oc-
arred Results ecarcely have been
IS were advertised and predicted. It
3 not yet shown that any great fall
ing of in crime has come. Alcoholic
PATENTS still are admitted to the hos
p..als in large numbers. Few jails
nye been closed and no peniten-
aariss. Divorces grow in number.
General tfade has not notably pros
pered through attracting money
heretofore going to meet the liquor
bA Labor is not more contented,
end il it is producing more most of
hose who report on economic condi-
tens publish misleading informa-
ton. There is no millennium. On
the contrary, there are signs of ex-
optional, populor uneasiness and
dissatisfaction.
A great mistake was made when
the prohibition,s-c Of Congress re-
fused to allow, before the new law
vent into effect or to provide for the
distribution Of thu large supply Of
ntozicants then II existence. 1t was
kept concentrated in the hands Of a
few interested in it's sale. Bootleg
eng thus was given a chance to be-
come nationalized industry and
strong corrupt;ne influence put at
Work From the point of view of
Prohibition practicality, the policy
ADOPTED was a foolish one. Prohibi-
ton leaders privately recognized this
TACT. But they we're afraid to seem
TO concede anything.
With bootlegcirq established, the
enscrupulous, when old supplies ran
loW' restored their stocks by the
manufacture Of all sorts Of injurious
E9acoctions. The illegitimate traffic
grows and it will be difficult to root
Il out, and hence there will remain
most Of the old evils of the liquor
uafie, with new ores added.
what is to be doce? It is doubtful
the enactment of more dras-
" laws will help. Enforcement if
IL breaks down will be through the
,elosaI Of juries to convict and of
: S'ai authorities 20 apply the law.
: experience under the disregarded
fourteenth Amendment shows that a
constitutional provision will not en-
!. .0'ce itself; and Few will claim that
" Is possible to place policemen in
alilons Of homes. The most that
an De expected is to stop general
.''amercial dealing and large-scale
manufacturing.
,,, mus the mirds of many keenly
'llVe to the liql,l evil are turning
gan to the original idea of the
= ta'l-Saloon League-namely, that
ae ., most that can be achieved is
,a,o0n suppression, and that the op-
~ ,''"nlty to accomplish at least this
"u'n should not De neglected.