Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-24
.Pa0H|BHI0N'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

unenforced prohibition IS or is not
responsible for this seems to be a dis
putable question. The Antis are in
ciined TO blame the entire crime weve
on the 18th Amendment, while the
Pros insist that the two are wholly un-
related. In support of this contcn-
ton. they call attention to the fact
that similar crime wave is splash
ing over Europe where no effort has
been made TO restrict the free flow OF
liquor.
Frohibifionists Optimistic
New York prohibitionists. more
over. refuse to admit that prohibition
has 50 far proved unsuccessful in New
York. They point out that liquors OF
all sorts and descriptions valued at
$2.750. 600 have been seized by tho
authorities and stored in impregnable
warehouses. that hundreds OF persons
have been arrested for violations OF
the Volstead Act. which has proved
an efficaoious warning to other would
be viclators. and that restrictions on
the withdrawal OF liquor are ever be-
coming more rigid. All OF these
things must. in ume. they assert. have
their effect.
AN these reports about New York
being wide open are greatly exag-
gerated." declared one such optimistio
Pro tho other night. as he went TO dino
with an Anti. "Of course. II La only TO
be supposed that some people would
attempt to break the law-especially
those OF the undcrworId-but they are
being successfully combated. Saloons
have gone. and the digtribution OF Ii
quor has been practically stopped. cx-
cept At prohibitivc prices"
As tho Pro hurled this opinion
forcefuliy at his companion, the two
debatcrs turned into dlmly-llghted
East Houston street. where there are
certain famous cafes on the pave
ment before the dinsy, picturesque
doors of the two OF these strobe
tall. watchful policeman.
There. you see. said the Pro, Tho
police are everywhere on the Job.
Conditions are better than you think"
Yes, so | see" said the Anti COM
plaeently. and now let's go tn and
have a drink phc same policeman
was here the other night. and We had
a large coffee pot full OF Chianti and
a really delightful cordial"
II must not be supposed from tho
foregoing that the United States re-
venue officers who are patrollinE
New York are not at all vieilant IN
enforcing tho law. It Is simply that the
task is altogether too much for them.
As soon as they put an end to the IL
quor traffic in one place, 1t breaks out
IN another. In spite of the fact that
twenty-five agents constantly patrol
the st Lawrence river. bootleEginS
N"hNaANFH PNdNllEtllN unGhfCkeI IN
that vicinity-by boat, by train and by
automobile. One bootleger. who was
caught and arrested the other day.
admitted that he could get as much
liquor as he wanted across the
Canadian border.
Yet In spite OF all this mas sof fail
ure piled UP by the Volstead Law. pro-
hioilonists on the whole, refuse to
be discouraged. The United States
may never be fully dry. they say.
hut prohibition will never bc rejected.
While II may not be successful In this
generation, or even in the next, IT will
eventually. is their claim.
sentiment thruout the country is
continuity growing stronger for pro-
hioition. said Prohibition Commis-
Fioncr Kramer. In an address here tho
other day. Despite evidences Of
lawbreaEing in some sections. the
country as a whole Is behind the
amendment TO the Constitution. New
YORK and the East cannot be consid-
cred as rejecting the attitude of tho
country at large, and in general west
OF Pltteburgh the country Is dry"