The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-02-08

agreed, and that one point was total
abstinence from alcoholic liquors. They
see that il is essential to realizing their
other ideals of physical fitness, purity,
efficiency, goodwill"
This is stragetic moment in the
lives of these millions of youth in
Europe. Wisely directed, encouraged,
taught, until the principles and practice
of abstinence become permanently
fixed, the time of at least one whole
generation may be saved in freeing
those nations from the bondage OF
drink.
So while with the tools of law we
grub up the remaining roots of the
liquor traffic, while we hack away at
the entangled wilderness OF drink tradi-
ton and prejudice and greed that
stubbornly block the road, let us tend
increasingly the altar lights that reveal
the vision at the end OF the road.
And it will be the CLEAN of these
lights to which the spirit of youth will
answeringly glow.
Do not misunderstood me. | ana
not minimizing for an instant the i'm
portance of law enforcement and ex-
hortation thereto, or of all the neccs-
sary details, but | am begging that
youth shall be given the vision of what
it is all for. Youth will accept the
challenge if that challenge is vigorous
and its high meaning is clear-the
human spirit and human effort full.
rich, many-sded, as it is freed from
the bonds of drink.
We owe it to youth that the vision
be radiant with knowledge. What was
the matter with that thousand or more
students OF great eastern university
who, few days ago. voted for beer
and wine' Just this, Their vision was
incomplete. Some of them voted to
retain the Eighteenth Amendment, but
favored wine and beer. Their eyes
had not been opened by knowledge of
modern facts showing that life is hap
pier, better, more achieving without
beer and wine.
With some OF them knowledge had
not opened their eyes to experience of
the past that prohibition can not be
effective if beer and wine remain, that
they do not lead to better enforcement
but increase difficulties of enforce
ment.
Some of them had not caught the
vision OF new world changed indus
trially in which. wossl ! is done more
easily. more effectively, more safely
without alcohol
Some of them had not realized as
yet their high privilege OF social re-
sponsiblity, the constructive influence
Of personal abstinence on the choices
on life currents of their fellows. I'll,
Every such demonstration as this
vote is a challenge from youth. N
means that we must not only insist on
the majesty Of the law. but visualize
its reasonableness, the beauty there is
in its fulflment ,a8.Hasa,s 5.aa.es4
We must make this great social
movement human as well as legal.
With law we say to the liquor traffic:
"Y on shall not SOW seeds ofinefficiency,
disease, and unhappiness in the way of
humanity. Every time you try to sow
them, we shall dry them up, destroy
your implements and push you off the
road"
With education we can say: Here
are the sign posts OF the proven
dangers in alcohol Here arc the
reasons which growing knowledge OF
natural law, of human experience, of
social justice, teaches why we must use
these tools of prohibition law,
But with it all we must somehow
get the glcam of our vision across to
the spirit of on-coming youth, until
with the light of knowledge in their
eyes" with the flame OF freedom in
their souls" they strike hands with
the courageous farseeing spirits OF
all ages who have. wrought for
their fclowmen and the. race which
can be. We must make il seem
worth while attempting. worth while
daring, worth while living for and
may be dying for. Give them that
vision
THAT sees beyond the years
The alabaster cities CLEAN
Undimmed by human, tears"