San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-08


beverage containing more than one-hal
of one per cent of alcohol. From those
lwho forCsaw the consequences of such Z
travcsty they would accept no counsel
But the consequences have arisen &c
plague them, and now they are at a loss
what to do. So, it is no wonder that
the ghost of the old percentage issue has
reappcarcd at the Capitol, this time in
the form of a bill introduced by Senator
Spencer of Missouri which provides for
presidential appointment of what may be
called a percentage commission.
Each of the members OF the commission
would be paid $40 per month, and at
least two of them would be women. They
would be persons who, i'll the judgment
OF the President, would be qualified to
Investigate and determine as far as pos
sibc what alcoholic content in beyer-
age. under a fair and reasonable interpre-
tation. makes the beverage Intoxicating
lust how the commission would reach
a conclusion is indicated by the provision
empowering it to summon witnesses" .
1t would be difficult to regard this bill
in a serious light, were it not for the fact
that it signifies the plight into which the
prohibitioniSts have cast themselves. In
trinsically it suggests many ludicrous
possibilities. Although it is manifestly
absurd to classify buttermillt as a bcv-
erage-and as Senator Spencer points out
it is possible for buttermilk to develop
without the introduction of artificial ele-
ments more than one-half of one per cent
OF alcohol-it is likewise absurd to as
sumo that all persons react equally to the
same quantity or percentage of alcohol.
But this subject, like the ghost that
is stalking again through the nations
legislative halls is very old, and the facts
pertaining to it are almost too obvious
for discussion in adult society. However,
some of the prohibitionists may realize
that in framing the Nolstead act they
went to a ridiculous extreme; and now,
in their effort to carry on the pretense
OF prohibition they may possibly be
disposed to grasp at the absurdity which
Senator Spencer has offered-his proposal
that commission be created to ascertain
the proportion of alcohol to water which
produces intoXication. Would it not be
advisable to specify the exact quantity
OF any beverage which each commissioner
should be required to drink, or to have
a witness talk about, before reaching a
decision:
However, jumping from one abSurdity
to another might save the face" of the
prohibitionists who realize that their pro-
jcct has failed Even before the enact
ment OF the Nolstcad law a distinction
between light and heavy beverages
was made, by the consumers as we'll as
by the manufacturers. In any case the
consumers will drink what they can get,
SO long as it quenches, their thirst; and
what they can get now under "prohibi-
ton is far more potent than the liquor
that was Customafily called for when
every consumer was free to express his
preferences.
In short, no definition would avail the
prohibtionists anything if it did not pro-
vide for beverages which would satisfy
the normal demands Of the thirsty. If
they should fully realize that fact, their
seizure OF the opportunity by Senator
Spencer's bill would result in the estab-
lishment Of a fiction far less Prejudicial
to their political interests than is the one
to which they committed themselves with
the passage OF the Nolstead law Insist
ence upon the kind OF enforcement" in
which they are now engaged cannot but
be suicidal. The legalizing of beverages
containing moderate percentage OF al
cohol, although it would not, in fact,
make the country dry" might save.
them from the fate which time ultimately
brings to all fanatics.