Evening star., 1921-07-15
Editorial Digest
Parades and Prohibition.


The personal liberty" parades Of
Independence day. which have caused
a great deal Of comment. both hu-
morous and stormy, demonstrate that
despite the number of representative
newspapers which disapprove Of the
Volstead act. the majority of press
opinion in the country frowns on the
activities Of the opponents Of prohibi-
tion.
The emphatic language on the part
of some writer's. however, who consid-
er the wet paraders in the class with
| anarchists" or agitators whose ac-
tions encourage violations Of the
Constitution" as the Christian Science
Monitor independently puts 1t. have
called forth some equally emphatic
protests. The Monitors remarks seem
essentially unfair and un-American"
to the Grand Rapids Herald (repub-
lican). If the paraders had been an
archists they wouldn't take the trou-
Bile to parade peacefully" it believes.
AS to measuring the sentiment of
the country by the parade. which mus
tered only some fifteen thousand
marchers against a promised hun
dred thousand. the Idaho Statesman
(republican) SCOTS at the deduction of
the anti-saloon leaders when they
say that this proves there isn't much
sentiment against prohibition"
Two views "are likely to be taken"
OF the demonstration, says the Hart
ford Courant (republican). and
third is better than either" Thus the
paper feels that it shows neither a
sentiment for extreme prohibition nor
everything flowing free" but "a
middle ground. where the disposition
Is to allow the use Of light wines and
beers" This sentiment is referred to
by the Newark News independently. 4.
those against the Volstead law who
didn't march," but who "object to the
way that law was adopted and en-
forced" and 'in any ballot box con-
test they will be against the drys."
although they have no more use for
the other type Of vets than the drys"
have.
To many it was simply local af
fair. which in no way represented the
country. Granting that the marchers
were sincere" the Springfield Repub-
lican independently adds that ut Is
is unlike New York that the country
has prohibition today" and the Will
mington IN. c. Star (democratic) is
even more emphatic:
AN anti-prohibition demonstration
staged by the foreign-born OF New
hyphenate mayor will strengthen. not
weaken. the conviction of the people
generally that dry laws are worthy
Of respect"
The whole event. IN the opinion Of
the Atlanta Constitution (democratic).
nothing in 1t to frighten the most ap-
prehensive follower Of the prohibition
banner" 1t proves to the Birming-
ham Age Herald independent demo-
cratic). that the painful realisation"
has reached New York. the last
cause is hopeless" The Jersey City
Journal independently is inclined to a
similar view. asserting that the
plain truth Of the matter Is that the
longer prohibition remains in force,
the less real opposition there is to it,"
can get along quite comfortably with
out periodic shots Of the strong stuff.
and women want none Of the old con-
ditions that brutalised the men"
The Syracuse Post-Standard (repub-
lican) also believes that the country
ment as 1t stands. for a more vigor--
Gus enforcement than New York and
the larger cities like" and 1t believes
the people. either from hostility to the
metropolitan attitude or from the fear
that demands for light wine and beer
look upon such demonstrations with
suspicion" Therefore. since public
sentiment" behind increasingly strict
er enforcement Is growing, the Knox
VILE Journal and Tribune (republi-
can) believes that neither parades
nor verbal protests will change it"
Another reason why the public dem
onstrations are not supported even by
persons who may not be thoroughly
converted to all the tenets of the
''drys" is the fact, as the Reno Ca
xette (republican) sees 1t, that "rea-
sonable persons who believe the Vol
stead law to be too drastic" are per
fectly willing to wait until prohibi-
ton has had a chance to show its
general effects" before they try ito
restore beer and wine to the dinner
tables"
pendent) concurs. The people ARE
willing to let experience make the
arguments" 1t says, and then adds:
"A very great many Of them are learn
ing in their cellars and kitchens more
about practical fermentology than
they ever knew before: A parade OF
ali the people making their own beer
and wine would be impressive, but
public display is not a part Of their
policy"