The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-03-21
Dew OF HOPE WILL TURN
TO FROST FOR WET ONES
Radio Debate Votes Don't Mean
a Thing, Thinks Very Moist
Enquirer of Cincinnati
DRYS MAKE A STATEMENT
christgau and Langley Tell Real
Conditions Under Which They
Participated in Discussion


The first radio broadcasting refer
endum on the modification of the Vol
stead act was held last week. A Chi
cago broadcasting station staged the
affair primarily as a prize contest and
not a straw ballot.
O. G.. Christgau, editor OF the Amer
lean Issue, Illinois edition, and John
NV. Langley, of the Illinois Anti-Saloon
League, took the dry side OF the ques-
Ition and were opposed by c. A. Win
die and Attorney Clarence barrow,
both of Chicago.
Christgau and Langley made it plain
! TO the radio company that they were
not interested in the referendum that
the conditions of the referendum were
fixed by the broadcasting station and
not agreed upon as means OF secur-
ing fair expression OF sentiment.
The newspapers were given advance
notice to that effect. However, the
radio people asked for an expression
of opinion and as result nearly $4,000
votes were received, and $4,000 of them
favored the modification of the Vol
stead law and the return of the beer
traffic. The vote was by telegraph.
. Because of the publicity given to the
returns by the newspapers without at
the same time making clear the condi-
tions of the referendum a statement
may be of interest to any who wish TO
determine how accurately public sen-
timent was reflected. In addition to
the fact that the radio referendum was
primarily a prize contest and not
straw ballot arc the following facts
for considerations
Church Folks Not Participating
l. A very large proportion of those
who favor prohibition would not spend
money in prize contest which they
considered in the nature of a lottery
and contrary to their religious prin-
ciples.
g. A considerable proportion of
church people would not patronizc the
telegraph office on the Sabbath day,
the day on which most OF the voting
was done.
3. The period OF the debate and the
referendum was from 1000 o'clock
Saturday night to 1000 o'clock Sun
day night a period when large pro-
,fortion Of the normal dry vote was in
terested in and engaged in church ac-
tivities.
4. The condition requiring votes to
be cast by telegraph practically elm
mated the vote from tho rural districts
since farmers arc not convenient 10 tel
cgraph Offices, are not accustomed to
using kilograms and at present not
able or inclined TO spend money UNI
necessarily.
5. Persons favoring prohibition en-
forcement are naturally not interested
in an expression of opinion in way
that would have no effect on the law
with which they are satisfied.
6. On the other hand, those dissat-
isfed with the law are naturally more
quick to register their protests when
ever an opportunity is offered. This
fact is especially significant because
the main activities of organized wet
groups during recent years have been
in the nature of demonstrations against
sthe law
In addition to the above the Incl
dental fact that heavy proportion of
the telegraphed votes came from Chi
cago, Milwaukee and other nearby
large cities is worth considering.
This explanation in connection with
the radio referendum will help to ex-
plain why it is that while the vets
frequently win referendum votes which
can not affect prohibition laws, it is
the drys who win in the elections when
dry legislation and enforcement issues
are settled. This statement is given
merely for the benefit of those who are
honestly interested in arriving at cor
rect conclusions based on the radio
vote. 1t is not given to kill any of the
Joy of any of those vets who still hug
a delusive phantom Of hope and delight
in joining a chorus of protest at every
opportunity. The drys are perfectly
content to let the vets enjoy their ref
erendum victories which mean nothing,
while the drys continue to elect law
makers and enforcement officials ia
vorable TO prohibition.
What Wet Paper Thinks
This is why, perhaps, the Cincinnati
Enquirer, doughty champion of beer
and enemy of prohibition, says:
The radio vote on the liquor
question appears to be favorable
to the vets, but we incline to the
belief that 1t suggests nothing
more than the dew on hopes
which MIGHT eas;1v turn to frost