The New York herald., 1922-06-04
LADY ASTOR Says
7 PROHIBITION HERE
WORKS FOR GOOD
Task of Salvation Army and
Social Welfare Bodies
Much Reduced. \
NET RESULT BENEFICIAL
Found Some Resentment
Against the Rich for Break
ing the Law.
NET RESULT BENEFICIAL

Special Gable TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
Copyright, 1929, bv THE NEw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.)
London. June 3.
Lady Astor as the result of her
visit to America is. convinced that
prohibition is working for the good
of the country and does not i.esitate
to tell her wide circle of friends so.
She has brought back story quite
different from that of other visitors
and is able to refute many of the ex-
travagant tales which lave been ac-
cepted here of the deplorable condi.
tions resulting. from prohibition in
America. On being asked for an
opinion Of how prohibition is working
Lady Astor said:
Neither ! nor my husband went
to the United States and Canada TO
investigate prohibition, but obviously
the subject was included in our talks
with Senators, Congressman, members
of Parliament. heads of organizations
such as the Salvation Army. repre-
sentatives of the poi1oe force. leaders
of women's movements and repre-
sentatives Of business and labor.
2 Opinions Divided. -
Their opinion is not unanimous. You
would not expect It to be so on anything
in an Anglo-Saxon country. Individual
experiences often conflict but, neverthe-
less. perfectly clear, broad national
conclusion may be drawn. Let me illus,
trate.
II have been constantly told that ths
rich get as much liquor as they like IL
they are willing to pay the price. and
that socletytwas drinking hard. I can
not honestly say that 1 witnessed this
myself. But 1t is certainly true that the
task of the. Salvation Army and of so
niai and child welfare bodies and OF
churches has bsen hugely reduced by
prohtpition The leaders OF these or
ganizatioRg told me 50 quite definitely.
When balance, these results, when
set on the uplifting of the poor and
struggling and the salvation which pro-
hibition has brought to many wives and
children, against the alleged deerada-
ton OF some of the rich-well. there
cannot be any doubt that the net result
for the country has been good
Resentment Against the Rich.
Il found some resentment against the
rich for breaking the law. but the gem
erai sentiment seemed to be that IL was
they and their children and not the poor
who were getting the worst of IL be-
cause OF this. The business world "a
strongly in favor OF prohibition because
efficiency and savings have been in
creased. The women seemed solidly for
1t because the homes are happier. the
men more ambitious and the children
better looked after.
As to the future. the temperance
forces seemed confident, for no political
party advocates a reversal OF prohibi-
ton. This proves that most of the elec-
tors feel that prohibition has been bene-
ficial and do not believe that IL has
made either the United States or Canada
into nation OF dope fiends any more
than the voters of European foreign
countries believe that the increase in
crime and drugs infFrance and England
since the war is due to the absence OF
prohibition.
The most that the vets are asking
for the United States apparently is a
measure to legalize the sale of Iirht
wines and beers of the strength of many
English non-alcoholic beverages. and
even for this policy they do not hope 10
get more than the first reading vote in
Congress and from this vote they do not
anticipate victory"