New Britain herald., 1923-02-21
Prof. Farnam of Yale Tells
Audience Here Claim of
Naturalization in the
Milder Drinks Is Lie.

~ AHHSANse shnAsA fas2 g law ~
galizing light wines and beer on the
gFound that they are non,inloxieat,
ing, il would be overturned by the
supreme court, because congress
would be enaeling q lie said Pro-
fessar Henry W, Farnam OF Yale last
evening az the monthly meeting of
the south Congregational church
Brotherhood,
Despite the fact that an open ins
viiatian had heen extended 10 all
wet sympathigers 10 be present and
ask questions. the audience OF APP
proximately 500 men and few
women apparently included no wet"
enthusiasts. Many questions were
asked Professor farnam following
lis talk, hut all came from dry"
sympathigers.
The speaker was introduced by
, Rev. DIR. George ". c. Hin, who re-
ferred 10 the 18th amendment being
a timely subject for discussion and
remarked upon the many differences
of opinion regarding the law and its
enforcement He said American citi-
zens have a right TO have their own
American citizens all should be open
minded. He referred TO the terri
bly, confused and awfully irritating
problem of law enforcement under
the 18th amendment"
"The principal argument against
prohibition" said Professor Farnam
in commencing his address, lis, We
want n drink II Is difficult TO ar
| que with man opposed to prohi-
bition unless yom can get him into
frame of mind where he can for
get his own appetite"
He said there are many misstate-
ments being made about prohibition.
He said there were laws on the
statute books putting penalty on
intoxication 200 years ago.
Does Not Restrict individuals.
prohibition is not sumptuary
law. nor does it regulate what the
individual shall do" he said. 1T
does not prohibit drinking, it does
rot prohibit in terms the purchase,
IL is aimed at the liquor traffic. The
liquor traffic is a predatory traffic,
a business which undermines in its
by products all other business occu-
pations.
LIQUOR drinking, according to the
speaker, has tendency to shorten
life, increase diseases decrease efl-
cheney, make people poor, cause In
sanity and infirmities. increase taxa
ton, crime pauperism and cruelty to
women.
yurnV
grain which went into alcoholic
drinks would have furnished a one
pound loaf of bread per day for each
man in an army of 100000 men.
Speaking of the committee of 30
leading men of the country, men who
were neutral on the liquor question,
who made an investigation in aims
houses, he said it was found that 81
per cent of the inmates were there
because of liquor.
Regulation Ineffective.
He said the liquor traffic could not
he regulated instead of being pro-
hibited because it has been tried by
states and found that under regula-
ton it steadily increases.
Almost Immediately after the pas !,
sage of the law, the speaker said, ar
rests for drunkenness fell off. Ar
,ests for drunkenness in New Haven !
n 1916 were $500, and in 1921 they
had dropped to 2,141. The arrests =
'or breach of peace showed the same . :.
relative changes in the five largest ,
cities in the United States. The per-
,entage Of deaths from alcoholism,
10 said. in IA of the largest cities in
he United States dropped from 1893 =
n 1915 to 276 in 1920.
Cases treated by charity organiza-
ions. the number of automoblle &C
,idents per car, deaths from pneu-
nonia and number Of insane patients
II showed a marked decline. he
,dded. and stated that the "keeley G.
lure" business has been knocked IN Ct
he head entirely. Z
Denying the charge that the lsth
creates nation OF law p
reakers. Professor Farnam said, II "
oes not create nation OF law 9
reakers, it simply reveals the weak q
ess of our administrative system.
Iany people do not break laws pc A
ause they are not tempted. Ac-
uiescence of people of wealth in the
iolation of the 18th amendment Is
ne of the most short sightedness. a =. =.
ian who owns property should by all ~ -,
1eans stand for law enforcement. a..
As to Personal Liberty. 81,
Answering the charge that the =,
mendment interferes with personal :. :.
berty, he said, I'VE are constantly
aving our personal liberty inter-
sred with. A man cannot drive his
utomobile on the left side of the -.
rect. There are some streets in
ew Haven in which l am permitted
, drive in only one direction. In the
avs of Lincoln most men chewed H.
,bacco and would spit anywhere. III ar
e we're to have told those men that hi
lev could not spit where they want n.
/ to, they would have replied that TIL
e were trying to interfere with their mi
ersonal liberty. The Sth amend ne
tent wipes out very potent cause ed
pauperism and crime. Many men
, through lot of mock heroics ur
bout the personal liberty when all m,
,ey want is to get a drink" w
He cited as one of the alleged OBJ. sic
ctions to the Volstead act that people fo
Nv it is too severe. Many people sa