Evening star., 1924-08-24
LATIN AMERICA ARMING
FOR A WAR ON LIQUOR
MANY Leaders Believe That Prohibition
Is Only a Matter
of Time.

direction than any other South Amer
lean country, there are anti-alcoholic
leagues, in Argentina, Bolivia, Uru-
quay and some of the other nations,
while most of them have some form
| of regulatory legislation and educa-
tional work is conducted in the
schools. In Uruguay the sale or con-
sumption Of intoxicants is forbidden
in all army units and buildings and
on naval vessels: also in the neigh
borhood of markets. parks and har-
bors. In Paraguay prohibition zones
have been established, this having
been brought about by the American
meat-packing concerns established
| there. Similarly, Peru, Brazil, Ecua-
| dor and Colombia all have adopted
some regulations.to prevent excessive
| drinking. In Guatemala several In
dian tribes, with due ceremony, an
nually pay a tribute of silver to the
government to prevent the establish
ment of saloons or bars in their dis
tricts; they do not want any disturb
| ance there. These same Indians, how
| ever, according to reports. go over
into neighboring territory to indulge
| their alcoholic tastes.
Soda Fountains to Latin America.
Prohibition workers in the United
| States see in the recently growing
| sale by this country of soda fountains
and fruit juices to Latin America a
of ultimate alcoholic aridity through
out Spanish America. It is only
| within the past year or so. they
point out. that the United States has
been selling any marked quantity of
! these thirst supplies to
her sister American republics. Even
Cuba, not usually considered as
showing any tendency to "dryness."
| has bought during the past few
months, according to Commerce DA
| partment figures, more than $4,000
| worth Of fruit juices, while Cuba,
Argentina and Panama are listed as
among those having bought soda
fountains or appliances.
There are various economic factors,
| the prohibition leaders state, which
must be overcome in the fight against
can countries. One Of these is to
find a market or outlet for the
natural products of those countries,
! largely agricultural. In Cuba the
wastes from sugar production have
been turned into rum; therefore an
other market for industrial alcohol
must be found, it is asserted. A SIM
liar problem Is met in most Of the
other countries.
Instruction IN Schools.
In the lectures and instruction now
| being given in the schools of many
of the Spanish American countries,
prohibition advocates in the United
States see one Of the strongest fu-
ture weapons Of attack against in
toxicants. They point out that this
| was one of the early means used in
this country to prepare the way for
prohibition legislation; and they be-
| lieve in time it will have like effects
| in Latin America. Recently, accord
ing to a report to the Pan-American
Union, a pamphlet translated from the
English, entitled Scientific Manual of
| Prohibition was distributed in all
| the schools of Ptru.. Similarly in
| Mexico the department Of education
| recently placed temperance textbooks
in the hands of its public school
teachers.
Custom and many other factors
| may make total prohibition, even in
| name, a slow process in Latin Ameri-
ca; but efforts to secure more temp
| crate use of all Intoxicating drinks
and to bring about a gradual diminu-
tion in their use already are showing
results in many Of the countries, and
the prohibition workers believe that
| ultimate prohibition 10 only . Ques-
tion of time.