New Britain herald., 1922-06-17
THE OBSER VER Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

or peculiar to the present administro-
 tion.
 The report of the anufacturers that business is improving. backed up
 by similar statement from the mer- chants and given added weight by the recent favorab', statements of the
 Savings Bank and tho announcement that more money k available to aid in construction work, .s welcome news.
 Republicans here are already gird- ing up their loino for the fall cam paign and. judging from present in, dications, they do we'll to prepare for hard fought battle. The opening gun is due to boom at the ward clubs outing at Momauguin on the 24th. when some imported speaker, hailing from the Middle West and probably never having heard Of New Britain before, will be on hand to ladle out the soft soap. He will tell the New Britainites what fine type of men they are. He will praise their con- gressmen and senators at Washing ton. He will seek to enthuse over what he will claim the republican party under Harding's leadership has done, and will probably eend up with three big ones for the c. o. P. Whereupon the loyal legion from here will echo it with three big ones for the G, o. P. Great is the way of the politicians.
 But how about election day?
 That's another story.
 Uncle Sam has proposition to face in the liquor question aboard ships sailing under the American flag and operating practically under government susidy. Tn small way the economic phase of prohibition is being demonstrated most forcibly. What the decision of the attorney general regarding the legality of sales upon American ships on the high seas will be cannot be anticipated, it is certain that the desire of the admins tration to encourage shipping will have some influence.
 Many people are travelling these days and most of them will choose a ship upon which to make their jour- ney which allows, at least, an exer- else of personal liberty" Not that the travelling is being done with the idea of going some place to get a drink only, but the privilege of buy ing. should one desire, is appreciated Some few there are who are making a spree of journey, but this is not always the case. Dry ships will at- tract few passengers.
 Economically, the United States cannot afford to enforce prohibition upon its ships beyond the three mile limit There will soon be no ships if this is done and the government believes in encouraging shipping. What then can be done? Surely there will be found legal excuse for the continuance of the sale. It will be found that there is no reason why the ships should not be wet
 As country we are in much the same position as the shipping inter- ests from the economic standpoint at least. We have no liquor, legally. we can make no government income from it's sale. But we have every variety of bootleg stuff. from rank poison to moderately good alcoholic beverages, "moonshine" being in the preponder- ance. If prohibition really prohibited it might be good thing, but the brand of prohibition that we have is the worst conceivable proposition. It would cost more than we can afford to raise to enforce prohibition, we should have to have a, enforcement officer in every family, and another to watch the first officer.
 Income taxes from legitimate liquor dealers are denied us, revenue tax is denied us, various other sources of in- come concerned with liquor are de- nied the treasury. Instead we are paying a vast sum of money annually | to enforcement agents who are not a ble to enforce. It is no particular of them to so state, they | may be doing the best they can, but l they are unable to cope with the de- | sire for booze Prohibition becomes more and more serious as the farce goes on.
 The Observer must have his say for the city camp at Burlington where children who are in need of va cation are entertained for two weeks during the summer months by the city, or, rather, by philanthropic people of the city. Memories of childhood, his own-call from him the desire to assist in the worthy project.
 Member the day you first went on