Evening star., 1925-11-22
FASHION TO QUIT LIQUOR
GAINING In OFFICIAL SET
Many Still ''Off Wagon" But ''Dryingg-
Up Process Is Moving Forward
Despite Problems.

decided according to the individuals s
| own ideas. The prohibitory law Is de-
signed to stop the drinking OF alco,
holic beverages in this country. And
| it may be said that today a drinks
drink, no matter whether 1t was manu-
factured and purchased before prohibit
ton or not"
This cabinet officer declared en-
phatically that he did not believe that
high officials OF the Government in
Washington today patroniZe bootleg
gers, that their problem is whether
they shall drink legal liquors or not.
Another problem which officials OF
the Government face is drinking wines,
whisky and other alcoholic beverages
in the embassies and legations of the
foreign governments in Washington.
In these "oaseS of the desert" 1t is per
fectly legal to serve wine and liquors,
and it is perfectly legal TO drink them.
The law permits the supplies to be re-
plenished by importation into this
country. The foreign diplomats are
kind and obliging hosts. 1t seems
that these cases will continue to flour
ish like the green bay tree, unless. by
even for the foreign diplomats to do
in Rome as the Romans do" III Wash
ington.
tSOfIlt htluSt ~ DIIHh.
There are officials of the Govern
ment here who do refuse to drink wine
or any other alcoholic beverage in an
embassy or legation, just as they re
fuse to do on American soil. They are
not confined to the teetotalers since
birth or since the days before pro-
hibition. One official said in this con
nection that he did not care to break
in spirit the prohibition law. and
further he did not wish to give the
impression TO the foreigners here
that United States officials would do
in a foreign embassy what he did
not do in his own home.
There Is no real obligation on the
part Of guest to drink in foreign
embassy or anywhere else If he does
not care TO-" he said
There are Government officials here
who, while observing the law them
selves, frankly do not like 1t and
who believe that 1t is mistake to
try by legislation to make over" Gus
toms of the people of the United
States. None OF them desires to see
the return of the old saloon, they
say, but they would like to see some
modification of the law, SO that there
might he legal alcoholic beverages.
under certain restrictions.
Other officials of the Government
who observe the law and do not serve
any kind Of liquors in their homes.
legal or illegal, do not like the posi-
ton into which they are driven by
the fact that in so many other homes
drinks are freely served. They do
not like TO be considered tight wads"
by their acquaintances, unwilling to
put up SO or SIS bottle for whisky
or gin Of an inferior grade.
Little Chance of Repeal
But even those officials who do not
like prohibition law admit that they
see little chance OF a repeal or modi
feat Of the law.
Drinking by members Of Congress
is said by some of the Senators and
Representative to be on the decline.
This is attributed in part to the fact
that the personnel OF that body is
constantly changing with new mem
bers elected for the first time since ma
tional prohibition went into effect.
Many of the older members, however,
are to be found In the ''dry' ranks.
The pre-prohibition cellars will
eventually be used up, no matter how
extensive they We're at the start.
There is no way for them to be
legitimately replaced or replenished.
But there are 90 foreign embassies
and legations in Washington and
there are accredited between 500 and
400 diplomats III these embassies and
lega tions. many OF whom have their
homes outside the embassy and lega-
tion buildings. They do a great deal
of entertaining. Their thirsty Amer
lean friends are made welcome. Here,
indeeds is a source of alcoholic sup
ply that the prohibition agents cam
not ever dry up.
VIII Help Prohibition.
The anti-prohibitionists have made
much Of the fact that Government
officials. members of Congress and
other persons of means and influence
have not obeyed the prohibition law.
The advent Of this quiet crusade
among people of fashion and influence
may go far to check the law violation
and as result reduce the demand
for repeal or modification of the pro-
hibition law. If 1t really works out,
| it will do more for prohibition in
Washington and throughout the coun-
try than doubling the strength Of the
prohibition unit. When the band
wagon becomes the water wagon, u
If it ever does, law enforcement will
be the thing rather than the ex.
ception.
Some members of society" arc be.
! ginning to feel that it would be pleas
anter for living leaders to set an
example Of law obedience than for
| them to play the principal roles in
a series of fashionable funerals due
| to drinking an inferior grade Of liquor,
which undoubtedly Is becoming more
plentiful as the pre- prohibition liauor
! is consumed and the supplies from