The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-10

Sometimes matter of thrilling in
terest is concealed in the fine print of
| a government report. / recently re-
office in Washington a copy of a
speech delivered in the senate Of the
United States by Senator Wesley L.
Jones of Washington. l have read
every word of it, and advise every one
to send and get copy and circulate
il as widely az possible. But because
fear that few Of you win take the
trouble, and because l think that our
vigilance ought to be greatly increased
on this wIlo1e prohibition question, |
am writing this abstract for Baptists,
in the hope that they viii become
white hot supporters OF the policy of
national prohibition. Our tendency is
to regard the battle as won. and to
unbuellie our arnaor. when in reality
the willy and rascrupulons enemy is
banking OF our over-conf;dence and
plotting to defeat inc amendment evci.
now.
Senator Jones slows that the chief
cvy IF tile VIZ 49, is that rrchihiiiaE
cannot be enforced. anu that by this
cry they are actually discouraging
some OF the supporters Of prohibition,
whereas the truth is that even the
partial enforcement of prohibition is
producing effects that are absolutely
startling in their number and in
fluence.
To meet the non enforcement argu-
ment he quotes from Mr. Bryan as
follows:
Complaint is made because there
are still violations of the law. The law
AGAINST murder has been on the statute
books for over 100 years, and still
some murders are committed and not
all murderers are caught. The same
is true as to the law against stealing.
Last year about $500 automobiles were
stolen in Philadelphia and twenty per
cent of them were never found Yet
no one suggests the repeating OF the
law against stealing automobiles.
The attitude of distinguished foreign
military authorities toward the pro-
hibition law is cited. General Diaz, of
Italy, says: Il have brought no liquor
with me, and / intend to drink none
while i am here. / believe that while
a guest in another country / should
show the same respect for their laws
as / would show for those of my own
nation General Foch announced that
he would follow the American custom
and take only water with his meals.
Admiral Kato, delegate TO the disarm-
anent conference. omitted wine in the
salute to the emperor on his birthday
saying with fine courtesy: This IS a
prohibition country, and we viii not
drink a toast but celebrate Banzais" -
the equivalent OF three cheers in the
American language. What an example
to genuine Americans
As TO the experience of enforcing the
prohibition law, Senator Jones shows
that the reports from Ohio disclose the
fact that the enforcement department
had collected in fines, forfeited bonds
and prohibitive taxes on the Illegal
sale OF liquor an amount which repre-
scented four times the cost OF the de-
pertinent, or in other words. enough
to carry on the enforcement work for
ths next two years. It is manifest
therefore that enforcement depart
ments properly organized are not a
burden on the taxpayers
The question OF arrests for drunken
ness is treated exhaustively. and It is
concIusiveiy shown from official rec
ords that there has been a gratifying
decline one that we should hardly
have dared hope for III the present