New-York tribune., 1921-09-19
Edwards Sees
Flask on Every
HipinCongress
Mem Who Passed Prohibition
Bill Are Most Persistent
and fragrant Violafors,
Jersey Governor Declares
SAYS Poor Citizens Suffer
Silent About Rumored Cam
didacy for u. S. Senate ON
volstead Repeal Platform
specsas Dispatch to The Trsbame

ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. I7.--Governo
Edward I. Edwards of New Jersey. in
an interview given out here last night
charged that the members of Congress
wlo framed the prohibition law are it's
most persistent and fragrant violators.
"And that Is one of the PRINCIPAL
reasons fer the failure of prohIpis:on. -
added the Governor. "I dare saw that
hardly more than dozen men in Con-
gress have fat hip pockets or empty
cellars"
Governor Edwards, who is a Demo-
crat, had been asked TO discuss the an
parently we'll founded rumor that he
would be candidate for United States
Senator against Senator Joseph Ere
iinghuysen. taking for his campaign
appeal the repeal or ahrogation of the
Eighteenth Amendment. He refused to
talk about the senatorship. With re-
gard to prohibition, however, he said :
prohibition is fat failure. It nro-
hibits only those who haven't the price.
The rich can have all they want. Farm
ers are still able to brew their own.
and they do. All they have to do is
prepare fruit juices and the Lord fer
ments them.
Prohibition is undermining the
character of the people. 1t is making
US & nation of liars and criminals.
Everybody who buys and sells liuuor
Is a criminal in the eyes of the law.
! am not opposed to prohibition be-
cause it means personal deprivation,
bat because it is an infringement Of
personal liberty.
Il % not drink liquor or other in
toxieating beverages, nor does any
nenl5er Of my family.
u do not wish to be understood as
favoring the saloon. I am glad that
institution has been abolished, for it
was the greatest curse of the nation.
1t was in the saloon that the treating
habit developed, resulting in excessive
indulgence. Where wines and beer are
served at the table there is scarcely
any intoxication at any time
Where cards are enjoyed in the
family circle there is hardly any gam
bling. Prohibit alcoholic beverages and
card playing in the home and members
Of the family will go to excess when
outside.
"No nation ever became great on
thou shalt not diet. There can be no
character without temptation. Our
Saviour preached this. No credit is
due young man or young woman
who mains good because he or she is
shut I'D in a glass case"
Reminded that defenders of prohibi
ion say the next generation will know
nothing of intoxicating drink, and will
therefore be saved from many forms
Of sin and crime, Governor Edwards
retorted
when the Indians were in tnis
country they had liquor and our prog
eny will discover vices. The develop
ment OF honor and character alone will
prevent their indulgence. There always
will be sin. Pronibitionists saw
drunkenness is inherited and that n
generation or two will wipe out the
predisposition.
Predicts Gloom Day" Next
We all know Of sons and daughters
Of straight-laced parents who became
black sheep, and we also know of great,
good men who came from homes whose
fathers were drunkards. Reformers
mean we'll, but they are misguided,
tanatical- Their next step will be to
attack the theater, tobacco and auto
mobiles. They will try to turn Sunday
into gloom day.
Il feel sorry for the immigrant who
comes here to escape oppression. He
soon realizes he is more oppressed
than he was in Europe. His main
pieasure-enjoying glass of beer with
his family after hard days work
is denied, but, as / said before, it is
only the poor man who can't get it.
"Bootleggers are becoming rich They
are getting large portion of the
funds which formerly went into the
treasures of municipal, state and Fed
eral government, which, in part, ac-
counts for existing high taxesn