Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-16
DRYING UP THE WORLD
SEEMS HARD JOB
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin

WASHINGTON. May 13-Is pro-
hibition a temporary thing, from
which public opinion will swing
away strongly in a few years or a
few decades? Will public and Off
cial support of the Volstead law in
the United States fall away so that
the law becomes a dead letter, and
bootlegging be tolerated without
much interference from the police or
from federal officials.
The state of mind of the American
public will be well shown in many
of the congressional elections this au-
tumn. The wet and dry issue is
foremost in many Of the campaigns.
Straight out party issues do not
amount to very much. The same old
hue and cry about extravaganza and
taxes voiced by the ~"outs," and
pointing with pride to accomplish
ments by the 'ins" doesn't arouse
any tr~anscendent enthusiasm among
the great m people so fire.
quently referred to by campaign ora
to-s.
But the question of liquor seems
to remain a very live one with nearly
everybody. The interest keeps up.
whether a person be wet or dry in
sentiment. In the elections this fall
there will be some effort to organize
on the part of citizens who believe
prohibition a failure and a bad
thing, just as the Anti-Saloon League
and other similar so-called reform
organizations have organized their
followers and the dry voters with
considerable success.
In the coming elections the his
tory of the Volstead law will be re-
vived. Anti-prohibitionists will re-
call the charge that the Volstead
law was passed ove President Will
sons veto in violation of an agree
ment which had been made with sew
eral opponents of the measure.
When the measure had gone to the
White House, several Pennsylvania,
New York and other congressman
who were opposed to the Volstead
measure secured promises. so they
said then, they could go home in
safety, and that there would not be a
vote on passage of the measure
again If it was vetoed by Mr.. Wilson.
until they had a chance TO be pres
ent and cast their ballots.
Bad Faith Charged
However, according to certain
anti-drys, when it was found that
there was a sufficiently large dry
vote in the House. with the wet
New York and Pennsylvania mem
bers absent, the bill al called UP
for passage over the veto of the
President, and among those present
and voting the sufficient two-thirds
affirmative vote was secured.
Interest in the matter of prohibit
ton. however. is spreading through
out the world, partly due to the ef-
forts of the agents of the Anti-Sa-
loon League. England was made the
first objective of this purely Ameri-
can organization. The first emissary
of any prominence VINO was sent to
the tight little island was mobbed
when he started his campaign, and
in the excitement one of his eyes was
knocked out. However, he took this
loss so philosophically, seeming to
think that il was well lost in his
cause, that there was a revulsion OF
feeling toward him personally, and
those who had mobbed him looked
upon him later as a good sport
This man, judging by the present
situation, did not make much head
way, and was later reported to be
attempting to ameliorate the condi-
ton of the Indian subjects of the
British crown In the excitement
there of a political nature, however
he has not succeeded in getting
HluCll puDl1Clty VIGIL hiO"h ANiC "a
cept to his immediate friends and
associates in the uplift organization
for which he works.
For many months past anti-dry
societies have been quietly at WORK
organizing. The first object of then
with headquarters in Washington
has declared that ii is not seeking
to change any opinions. or proselyt'
in any way-that at present M
members were wanted except thos'
who believed the present supposed,
. dry regime a bad thing, with tbs
bootlegging evil rampant, and VIII
want a modification of the Volsteat
law or eventual repeal of the DIR,
amendment to the constitution.
The efforts of the dry organiza
tons will be spread to other coun
tries. Some of the agents of thos'
associations have dreams of a DIR.
world. They are particularly de
, sirous of making countries within
striking distance of the United State
y abolish the legal sale and manufac
! ture OF liquor and beer, believing
that this will be a step toward max
ling prohibition effective in the Unite'
I States. Parts OF Canada are some
j.. what dry now, but Mexico and tn
! West Indian islands, other thai
those under the American flag, ar