The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1922-03-17
Stranger Here Discovers That
Law is Effective; Actually
Does Prohibit
SENDS HIS STORY ABROAD
Creates Good Impression as it
Reaches Europeans Through
Swiss Paper


is at Johns Hopkins Hospital. made a
very thorough investigation OF Prohi-
bition in America, and wrote his i'm
pressions for the Neue Zuercher lei
tung, leading Swiss newspaper.
Writing to the Washington Office OF
the AntiSaloon League, DR.. Schlaep-
fer says that from Swiss friends he
has received the news that his article
made very deep impression and was
very helpful in the movement against
liquor in Switzerland
In his letter DR.. Schlaepfer says:
1t was for me great satisfaction to
see the good effect of this law, only
possible in country with broad
minded people, with common sense
and free from sehshness-America."
The text of his article, in part as
printed i'll Switzerland, is as follows:
Prohibition in America
As soon as steamer on its voyage
to New York reaches the port, the bar
is locked, All sale OF any kind OF liq-
uor is prohibited, We have entered
the land OF National Prohibition For
nearly two years the law has prohibit
cd the traffic in alcoholic liquors. VIC
lators arc punished, The federal au-
thorities watch with commendable
zeal to see that the law is obeyed by
all classes of the population.
e, As a physician who visited the large
cities of the east, the north, the mid
die west and the south for purposes Of
study, / had abundant opportunity to
observe the operation and results Of
the law, on the street as well as in
public and private life. but especially
in the great city hospitals where the
poor from the streets and the slums
arc cared for. l had taken over into
Philistine lie many pleasant memories
OF student days, when we often sat in
a close circle over sparkling wine
Now, as loyal guest of the United
States, ] observed the Prohibition
against alcohol. Previously | had not
concerned myself much with the alco-
hol question.
A walk through various streets OF
Boston on Sylvester evening, taking in
the finest hotels as well as the ordinary
restaurants OF the laboring class, fur
nished interesting comparisons be-
tween the America OF today and
Europe Everywhere here the sale
Of spirituous liquors was forbidden, re-
siilting in quiet streets, except where
dance music noated out Of a half
opened window. In the workers
quarters all went their way quietly
One heard none of the shouts of the
home going groups as with us, none
OF the confusion of Friedrichstrasse in
Berlin. The cities OF the New World
arc quite sober, the many disorders
due TO alcohol are absent The scene
at Mardi-Gras in New Orleans was
similar, a carnival which has the same
reputation in America as the Rizza at
Cologne In spite of the Spanish
French descent of the people, ] was
assured from various sources that since
Prohibition there was different stamp
OH the festival, that of sobricty.
The beginning was made by the
adoption OF Prohibition in number
OF states. Slowly other states follow
ed their example. The increasing
gravity of the problem in the large
cities demanded solution. Only a
drastic remedy could meet this evil
that threatened the life OF the people,
and National Prohibition became the
law. The classes not directly respon-
sible for the bad conditions were
Obliged to make sacrifice to save fell
low citizens whom alcohol was under
mining, and particularly to help their
descendants into better ways.
Cities Present Problem
That the adoption OF a new law,
which disturbed an old, settled custom
was not unattached is quite to lie IN
derstood That is human nature. But
the good experiences OF the tates
which had adopted Prohibition moder-
ated the ire OF its opponents. 1t is
comprehensive that there we're still
violations of the law, for custom so
deeply rooted is not easliy set aside.
Especially is il Difficult; to control in
the large cities. A great force is re-
quired to attain the goal. Out of the
way places, known to few. may be-
come the resorts for drinking. Such
places are frequently raided by the Of
6cials In thu main it is poor stuff
which is dis posed of i'll these places
and the eff .cts are worse. SO much
the bette The irreconcilaple op-
poncn.s of Prohibition, who have in
dulged themselves chronically i'll alco-
hol toe long, will be disposed OF all
the so ner. The majority of the peo-
pie o.ey the law, There are not many
oDD. 5rtitnities to eyade it easily One