Evening star., 1924-12-20
BY EDOUARD HERRIoT,
Premier of France.
No. ".

No. ~.
One could easily multiply examples
OF Americas powerful vitality. To
sojourn in the United States is even,
and especially for a foreigner, to be
reJuvenated. In the desire to protect
the health OF the race the public
authorities take rigorous measures,
which in France would scarcely be
tolerated. First among these meas
ures Is the prohibition OF all alcoholic
drinks, including wine and beer.
Americans talk endlessly of this
regime. Many complain of il (more
willingly to Frenchmen than to their
own compariots). On board ship
their haste to enjoy our good wines
was evident. Where does prohibition
begin?" an American asked the bar
tender. AT the Statue OF Liberty"
was the reply. which made the Yam
kee angry, but he had to admit II.
French Liner Searched.
The severity of the American police
has produced International incidents.
Even our ship, La France, was not
immune, for the ship was searched on
the day OF a dinner offered by Gen.
Gouraud.
Will this regime be durable? l,
for my part, believe that it will be
vigorously defended. Pre- sident Cool
idge on September was personally
preparing a conference of governors
with view Of strengthening the en-
forcement Of the law. But SNUG
CLING Is fragrant. The rigors Of pro-
hibition have created, among other
conveniences, that of tempting Amer
leans, perhaps for tho first time, not
TO respect the national law. One may
even dare TO say that a certain num-
Der OF Government officials have been
corrupted. New York'S police COM
missioner has had TO prosecute GER
tain accusers for slander. A report
of the Attorney General to President
Coolidge state that the number of
delinquents in 1923 exceeded by 10000
the figure OF the preceding year. The
supporters OF the regime, however,
contend that prohibition has consider
ably lowered the statistics of crime
and lunacy.
Struggle Between Fraud and Law.
The battle for and against pro-
hibition continues. The outcome still
remains uncertain. Certain alienists.
such as DIR. Cotton. director of the
Trenton. \. j., Asylum, declare that
the intolerance of the system in
creases alcoholism. A Chicago news
paper reports that habitual drink ers
resort to frightful mixtures 1t is a
struggle between fraud and authority.
The Literary Digest affirms that
$2,000.O00 worth of liquor a week
is brought into Detroit There is
even smugglers market, which
has succeeded in lowering the prices.
According to the New York Herald
of October 6. high quality champagne,
which sold from $40 to $3.50 a case
in 1922, was, in 1928. only from $50
to $i25.
Ultra-Wcts Among Police.
The State governors 90 not seem
10 agree on the measures to take TO
force respect of the law. The deter
mined Governor of Pennsylvania.
Gov. Pinchot. an ultra-dry. is es-
pecially exacting. 1 am able, from
personal observation. however. to
state that among the lower ranks OF
the police there are ultra-Wets.
With certain good sense the last
Congress of the American Federation
of Labor voted a resolution that the
Nolstead act should be amended to
permit the consumption Of light
wines and beer. This would be. we
believe, a reasonable solution which
even certain ClerGymen recommend.
1t has been shown thus far that the
prohibition OF wine has resulted in
recourse to drugs ! saw in Chicago
happy addicts to cocaine. aud in the
New York police dcpartment-re-
markably organized-I visited the
anti-drug department. l noted with
regret the role that certain French
men played in this traffic in poison.
Alcohol tends to be replaced by
SNOW" A moderate law. such as
that demanded by the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, would provide a bet
ter remedy. Moreover. the United
states has had to protect the Cali
fornia vine growers. and the increas-
ing difficulty they experience in ex-
porting their excess wheat makes
them think Of resorting to that varied
agriculture. of which the wine is an
essential element.
Regulation of Immigration.
It is impossible not 70 admire this
effort of q young and vigorous race
to resist the social plaques which
decimaAe our Europe and people il
with crippled. The regulation of i'm
migration fortifies powerfully this
truly modern policy of which national
hygiene is the permanent concern. En-
trance to the United States is no free
for-all. Each candidate for admission.