South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-06
THAT IS THE ANSWER?

Today there viii filed with the president ana
congress a franz. and open demand for an inYesu-
cation or the enforcement OF the prohibition law
The demand comes from the firm Of Annheuser-
busch in -. Louis which made many millions OF
dollars from the manufacture Of beer when beer
was a legal beverage
That fact does not initiate against the charge
which It now uakes-which is that the lax enforce
snent OF tho law destroying their legitimate
business OF making non-alcoholic drinks.
There f. in America a spirit OF fair play which
Rili always grant hearing and II the facs on
which this demand Il based true, there Is an
even deeper wrong 70 right than that OF unfair
competition.
This brewery asserts that prohibition made their
plant valued at approximately $4oOOo.ooo worth
less until they expended $1soOO.o00 more to equip
It for the making OF soft drinks.
Now ehey assert this $4,000. 900 being confis-
Gated by the fact that the market for soft drinks
e. ruined by the failure to enforce the law against
Khs Illicit manufacture sale Of the drinks. the
ban on which cost them the forty millions
The facts on which the demand for inquiry u
based extends into every state union and they
assert that conditions are general IN that little or
no attempt f. made enforce the laws and that in
come states breweries have never stopped the max
ing OF beer. the only result OF the law being the
Enifting OF payments OF taxes to the government
90 fees to officials and the raising OF prices to con-
s1mers
They charge openly that the supervising director
Cor prohibition in district gave banquet TO
delegates to one of the national conventions-which
limits the charge TO either Chicago San Francisco
and that this banquet wines Of all sorts. cock
azils and champagne were openly served at one OF
the big restaurants
They charge that crookedness, graft and laxty
Of enforcement - widespread and sporadic and
that this failure OF law breeding dsrespect for
all law.
II Is we'll to keer in mind that this is plea which
comes admittedly from firm which made many
millions from the making OF alcoholic drinks. but
It Is also well to consider that though this be
the source the charges themselves are too serious
to be overlooked or passed away.
This nation does not intend will it permit
this land to be infested with bootleggers.
Prohibition came because this country believed.
or the majority believed. that the saloon
menace that a nation is better than drunken
nation
There is too strong sentiment behind that law
TO permit It to become the mere instrument for
extortion on the part OF vena and reasonable off,
Gals
That this company tells the truth when it says
that It reorganized business comply with the
law Is above question That it did not resort to the
bribery officials avoid IT. have others
in the business and as many saloonkeepers are do
ing. should weigh IN favor Of granting it hearing.
The answer to such an inquiry will not be what
the firm really wants--yvhich permission make
and sell beer.
The solution will be in reorganization of the
enforcement bureau which will take it from the
hands OF corrupt men. using convicted criminals as
agents and place it in trustworthy and incorrupt-
bic officers.