Evening star., 1925-10-31
CHURCH COUNCIL
HOLDS PROHIBITION
LAW is JUSTIFIED

LAW is JUSTIFIED
Continued from First Page)
outIawed in the United States as the
enemy of society:
80. To urge local. State and Fed
eral governments to cooperate with
increased vigor against the present or
ganized resistance to the prohibition
law until rs adequate enforcement Of
that law has been secured as OF any
other social legislation
THE administrative committee has
seen nothing in the report OF the re-
search department to Justify any modi-
fication whatever of the position thus
taken by the council on the prohibi
ton issue. The policy OF national pro-
htbition, as the report shows. was
adopted by the American people by
the overwhelming votes Of their elect
ed legislative assemblies. This policy
has been reatfrned by increasing ma
jorities wherever il has been chal-
lenged.
Cites Reasons for Law.
I'VE would remind those otherwise
good citizens who by their personal
example and public utterances are
lending countenance to those who vio-
late their country's laws OF the rea-
sons which led TO the adoption Of the
eighteenth amendment. It rests upon
three fundamental considerations:
First, the belief that in dealing with
gigantic social evils like disease or
crime individual liberty must be sur
rendered in the interest OF effective
Snf 81.
the liquor traffic Is such an eyil--a
conviction which IS gaining strength
all over the world, and which has re-
Gently found official expression In the
report Of the special commission on
drink of the Universal Christian Con-
ference on Life and Work at stock.
holm; third, the experience gained by
a generation OF experiment with sub
stitutes, which has led the advocates
OF temperance to conclude that only
drastic Federal action could bring
about the eradication of the evils they
were fighting. Prohibition was not a
policy adopted hastily or without due
consideration, and it Is not to be set
aside merely because great difficulty
or even temporary reverses are en-
countered in carrying II out.
The report makes clear the remark
able social gains which followed upon
the adoption Of prohibition-a lower
ing or the death rate from alcoholic
disease, a remarkable lessening Of de.
pendency due to alcoholism, O. great
reduction in drunkenness and other
results of a socially desirable sort. 1t
also calls attention to the part un-
doubtedly played by prohibition in i'm
proving business and economic condi-
tions. and. above all, points out the
indisputable advantage gained by the
M O
time, the report reminds us that ma.
tonal prohibition has not Yet been
given a fair opportunity to vindicate
IT'S rull value to the physical, eco
nomic, social and moral life of the Ma.
ton. and calls attention to serious
dangers to which 1t is at present ex-
posed.
THE Federal Council gratefully
recognizes the splendid service which
has been rendered by the agencies
especially authorized by the churches
which for many decades have labored
persistently and effectively to secure
the adoption and the maintenance of
prohibition. The council pledges it's
active cooperation with all agencies
which are ready to make q sustained
and constructive effort to uphold the
prohibition regime in order that there
may be a conclusive demonstration Of
IT'S IIASIiS dS d IldIlOIldl policy. II
urges the friends Of prohibition in
other countries not to be deceived by
the attempts which have been made
by opponents OF prohibition to in.
terpret the report as a confession Of
failure or even Of discouragement on
the part of the Federal Council or of
its constituent church bodies.
THE Federal Council calls upon the
churches to undertake a renewed
moral crusade to strengthen the hands
of those who are responsible for pro.
hibition enforcement and in particular
to give a greater measure Of moral
support to the newly reorganized
activities Of the Federal Government.
II urges upon all citizens who believe
in prohibition the necessity Of sup
porting the law by an irresistible vol
ume of public opinion. OF those who
may be out OF sympathy with prohf-
bition as a social measure or who
question the wisdom OF the particular
method by which 1t was adopted, It
asks voluntary compliance with the
law in the interest Of orderly Govern
ment and In order that the policy
it represents may be adequately tried.
1t appeals for a new measure of fair
mindedness and good will on the part
Of all in connection with this vitality
important issue in order that the out
come Of the great moral effort may be
determined by reason rather than by
prejudice and self-interest.
ESPECIALLY does the Federal Coun-
Gil urge upon the churches the neces-
sity for q more adequate program Of
education on the moral isues involved
In the liquor traffic. We strongly
emphasize the need for @ far greater
attention to this problem in the
church's program OF religious educa.
ton. In the last analysis, law de-
pends for its support upon the public
opinion which sustains It and the
conscience Of those who live under It.
There can be no greater mistake than
to suppose that legislation can relieve
us of the necessity OF training our
youth in habits OF temperate living.
self-control and the practice Of Chris
tian citizenship. To foster such
habits and to cultivate such practice
| Is the special and peculiar RESPONSE
bility OF the church, to be ignored
only at the peril Of the Nation.
1T is our hope and confidence that
the report Of the research depart
ment on the prohibition situation,
calling attention as II does to the real
dangers with which we are confront
ed, will stir the churches to a re-
newed sense OF their responsibility,
not only for the enforcement Of the
prohibition law, but for rallying the
conscience Of the Nation to its sup.
port"
Miss Adelaide S. Baylor Is head OF
the home economics edIca tton seryfce