New-York tribune., 1921-11-06
Observers Say
Dry Laws Have
Failed to Dry
Declare u. S. Is Consuming
Just As Much Liquor as
Before and Bad Quality of
Supply Enhances Danger

irft6 came to fee United Stdtes to
consider prohibition had found that
prohibition, as zoe in this country
ssere led to believe, does not eaist."
These Investigators 1csrc Mr.. Stitch
aud Mr. Davidson, Labor members
Of Parliament. Tho Tribune has ob-
tained the complete draft of their re-
port, schich it publishes herewith:
Be- Charles III. Sitch, M. p. for
Kingssoinford, Stats, and John E.
Davidson, NJ. r. for Smethwick,
Stats
LONDON, October 20.
TT WAS our intention, wYsen proceed
81 ing to the United States for
4 personal investigation into labor
conditions, to issue publication
Of some dimensions. Owing to the
many misleading statements that have
appeared in the press, particularly
those apparently based on cabled
versions of our views on prohibition,
we think it advisable to publish these
preliminary and general observations,
n order that there should be no mis-
conception as to our conclusions on
that particular matter. None are
more conscious than we ourselves, that
it is impossible to produce state
snent absolutely comprehensive from
visit so limited in time and scope as
WAS ours. To secure q full and
thorough insight into the operations
Of the Eighteenth Amendment to the
American Constitution which deals
with prohibition, would require many
months residence in the states and
personal contact with hosts of people
concerned in its administration.
We very speedily realized in our in
vestigations that labor conditions
could not be divorced from the ques-
ton of the anti-liquor law. No matter
whom we saw that question surged in
sistently upward in our discussions.
Il was evident that it was agitating
industry to an unexampled degree; it
forced itself upon us at every turn.
No matter where we went we were con-
scious of q definite feeling Of resent
snent against the Volstead amendment.
Our visit, however, was Of quits sufi-
%o RI
opinion as to the. operation and effect
of the new enactment and to assist our
fellow citizens in obtaining some idea
as to It's advantages or otherwise, if
sought to be imposed on our native
land.
We do not propose to enter into the
technicalities of the subject. 1t has it's
Drotagonists and antagonists, of sufi-
cient numbers, in this country, to sat-
sfy requirements. Both sides are
amply equipped with ammunition.
They can we'll be left to fight the bat
tie among themselves. 1t is not our
purpose to enter the arena at this
stage. We are content simply to set
down that which I'VE have heard with
our ears and seen with our eyes," leav-
ing our own people to form conclusions
FOR themselves. We would only add
that our object was TO find out the
truth SO far as we could; that our con-
clusions are honest and unbiased, and
we now submit them for what they are
worth, trusting to the fairness and
probity of those who read them to ac-
quit US of any arriere pensee, or intent
to mislead.
Information Supplied
BY Anti-Saloon League
.prised both rural and urban areas. We
interviewed large numbers of persons
Of consideration and pesition--husiness
men, trade union officials. journalists
temperance and other social workers,
engaged in the multifarious and rushed
life OF that unparalleled community
We were also furnished with an almost
overwhelming mass of information
particularly by the Anti-Saloon League
to which organization much Of the
credit. If credit at all, for placing the
new enactment on the statute book
must be attributed. We were also
greatly impressed with the power ex-
ercised by this latter body, an organi-
zation astntely and cleverly led, whose
ramihcations are illimitable, and whose
influence at the seat of government it
self is comparable only with that OF
the industrial and commercial interest
IN our own Houses of Parliament at
home; with this difference, that, where
as our own example Of "the power be-
aind the thronem is frankly and un-
shamedly business in it's purpose and
intent, that of the Anti-Saloon League
is declared to be moral alone. This
claim can be said to possess some sub.
stantiatien when we say that its mem.
oership is largely composed of persons
belonging to the many religious bodies
of the states, as numerous and varied
IN hue as those of our own country.
With an astuteness that cannot but
ne admired, this great Organization
adopted as it's name the one designa.
tion most calculated to arouse the
maximum Of antagonism to an existing