The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-06-30
Purpose Is to Arouse Anti
Prohibition Sentiment
WET PAPERS PROVE
FIGHT Is NOT OVER
Many Newspapers Oppose Volstead
Act
TRIBUNE FOR BEER AND WINE

In their desperate efforts to i'll
fuence public opinion against Prohi-
biton wet interests and influences
are circulating great quantities Of
propaganda. Many new periodicals
devoted exclusively to the fight
against Prohibition have recently
been launched. The front pages of
a few of these are shown in fac
simile reproduction in this number OF
the Issue The combined circula-
tons OF these various newspapers
and magazines doubtless reaches a
high number. All OF these papers
support the beer and wine nullihca-
ton program of the vets. 1t is not
the repeal of the Eighteenth Amend
ment but the modification OF en-
forcement laws that is desired.
Chicago Tribune Wants Beer
A more powerful influence for the
vets in their fight against Prohibi-
tion is at work through the medium
of big daily newspapers throughout
the state Particularly in the editor
ial columns of newspapers not in
sympathy with Prohibition argu-
ments for beer and wine are con-
stanty presented, The most aggres
sive and most influential OF the wet
newspapers is the Chicago Tribune.
In recent editorial this paper came
out specifically for a modification OF
the Nolstead Act so that beer and
wine would be permitted. On May
80 At the conclusion Of long ed-
torial reviewing Prohibition the Tri-
bunc said:
"Ttse Tribune believes that at least,
a partial solution OF the liquor law
lessness and liquor diseases which
are threatening the country would be
found in an amendment of the Vol
stead Act, which permitted the pro-
duction and sale under regulation of
good beer and wine OF light alcoholic
content"
Tribune Stand Condemned
The effect of such editorials and
the attitude of loyal citizens toward
the views OF the Tribune appear in
a resolution adopted by the Douglas
Avenue NJ. E. Church of Springfield.
The passage of this resolution is re-
ported in the Illinois State Journal
as follows:
Hearty commentator of The IL
linois State Journal editorial policy
in regard to the enforcement of the
Eighteenth Amendment was voiced
yesterday morning by more than
three thousand persons. members and
workers of the Douglas Avenue NJ.
z. church, who unanimously passed
a resolution. which also expressed
regret on the publishing last Tuesday
morning OF an editorial in The Chi
cago Tribune. which the resolution
says encouraged more open and
systematic violation of the same
amendment
The resolution was introduced by
the board of trustees of the church
and was signed by Thomas L. Lyon,
president of the board, and w. A..
Orr, secretary. A copy was sent to
the editor of The Chicago Tribune
and to both local newspapers. The
resolution, as adopted is as follows:
Editor, Chicago Tribune.
Dear Sir: Due to its possible far
reaching effects. your editorial of
May 80, so stirred the readers of
The Tribune of this community, that
the following resolution was unani-
mously adopted by the board of
trustees and lay members of the
Douglas Avenue Methodist Episco-
pal church OF Springhcld-a member
ship representing some three thou
sand persons, in open session on
Sunday morning, June T.
Whereas, The Chicago Tribune,
by reason of its long years as
staunch advocate of law and order
and because of its enormous circu-
lation has become and is, one OF the
greatest powers in America for good
or evil; Therefore, We deeply regret
the publishing of the editorial in the
;-e,,a of Mo-, an aotit1ed tprobihi-
ton and other like editorials as
tending seriously to encourage a
more open and systematic violation
of the Eighteenth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States
and
Whereas, We firmly believe that
the giving of any encouragement, or
the lending of any influence which