Grand Forks herald., 1922-06-29
PROHIBITION.

PROHIBITION.
Wherever men from distant parts OF the con-
tnent are thrown together, on railroad trains, in
hotels, and SO FORTH the subject Of prohibition is
pretty sure to become topic of conversation before
many hours have passed. In their opinion on this
subject people may be divided into three groups.
first those who constitutonally opposed to pro
hibitory restrictive legislation Of any kind; sec
ond, those who are in favor Of anything that goes
under the name of prohibition, whether it works or
not; and third, those who comparatively indfer-
ent as to the use Of liquor themselves and who de-
sire the adoption of whatever plan whether prohib
ton or regulation, will best promote sobriety and
good order.
Those of the first class denounce the prohibition
laws as denominations, and demand their repeal.
Those of the second class approve all prohibition
laws without qualification, and propose the RENE
dy for defective operation the writing of more laws
on the statute books. s
Argument with members Of either Of these
CLASSES is waste of time and effort except that it
Epay provide, passing entertainment. But there is
real aad lively interest among those of the third
class which is safe to say constitutes rs per cent
of the travelling population in the solution of what
they believe to be still an unsolved problem Those
who belong to this class, whether they hail from
Texas, New York, North Dakota, Alberta or On
aro. recognize the fact that the various prohibition
laws have by no means put an end to the manufac-
ture, distribution and use of intoxicants, and very
many of them declare their conviction that there is
more drinking than before prohibition laws be-
came operative Recognizing certain obvious facts
and making their own estimates as to the rest con-
cluding that prohibition is far from being success
these people are nevertheless in doubt as to what
should be done next, and where solutions are sug-
gested they are suggested only tentatively without
any apparent feeling of assurance that they would
work.
Because all traffic in intoxicants is surreptitious
s>k :.
tain small legal distribution statistics on consump
tion are out of the question. The moonshiner and
the bootlegger make no official reports and how
much they make and vend can only be surmised
The records of the criminal courts are practically
valueess, as only small percentage of the cases Of
drunkenness have ever found their way into the
courts On one feature there seems to be little diff
terence OF opinion, namely, that whether in the ag
gregate there is more or less drinking now than
formerly, drinking on fairly liberal scale is now
frequent and usual in circles where formerly drink
ing was practically unknown.
A few years ago the introduction of liquor at
the average evening gathering of young people
would have scandalzed the entire company, and the
person who appeared at such gathering in state
o fsemi-intoxication would have been in disgrace
Today 1T seems to be considered good form to carry
pocket flask at such gatherings, and the drinking
OF spirits has become not only masculine, but a
feminine accomplishment. So far whatever the
causes there is distinct retogression Society is
worse off than it was bef ore. .a
There are other ways in which observers see a
trend in the wrong direction. Some of them at
tribute these things to attempts to prohibit the traf
nc in liquor, and some to other causes but the con-
dt'ons exist, and they exist parallel with the law
Quebec and British Columbia are operating un-
der government dispensary laws, these laws varying
slightly. but cmbodying the same principles Thus
far travellers from those provinces appear as rule
to be fairly satisfied with the results but the laws
have been in force for but short time, and final
verdict on them cannot be given. There is much in
the situation to give concern to those who are in
terested in results rather than in methods and who
understand that the mere writing of statute which
says thou shalt not" never cured disease or re-
moved evil. ,