Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-31
PROHIBITION
CONTINUED from Page one)

couragement, and calls the churches
to undertake a new moral crusade to
strengthen the hands of those who
are responsible for prohibition en-
forcement. 1t asks voluntary COM
pliance with the law in the interests
of orderly government" 1t appeals
for a new measure of fairmindness
and goodwill on the part of all in
connection with this vitality import
ant issue in order that the outcome
of the great moral effort may be de-
termined by reason rather than by
prejudice and self-interest."
In concluding it expresses hope and
confidence that the report, calling
attention as 1T does to the real dan
gers with which we are confronted,
will stir the churches to a renewed
sense of their responsibility not only
for the enforcement of the prohibit
ton law but also for rallying the
conscience of the nation to its sup
port"
The statement in full follows:
I'm view of the widespread interest
attracted by the report of the Re-
search Department of the Federal
Council of the Churches of Christ in
America on the prohibition situation,
and of the serious misunderstanding
which have arisen in connection
with that report, the Administrative
Committee of the Federal Council,
composed Of representatives of the
church bodies which are members OF
the council has authorized the fol-
lowing statement of its conviction as
to principle and policy.
"First of all, the Committee would
emphasize it's unequivoeal support of
1,t% cd
many public utterances and re-
affirmed by the quadrennial session of
the whole council in Atlanta last De-
cember. We declare our strong con-
viction that the policy of prohibition
is the deliberately and permanently
established policy of this nation, that
this policy has not failed, but on the
contrary has already yielded results
which fully justify its adoption, that
the liquor traffic and the saloon must
no come back again, and that the
churches must set themselves with
new purpose to see that prohibition is
enforced by law and sustained by the
national conscience.
"The statement adopted by the
Federal Council in December, 1924, as
the authoritative expression of It's
attitude toward the prohibition
amendment. declares that the effect
upon the physical, economic, social
and moral life of the nation Of the
extraordinary effort of society to pro-
tect itself from the liquor traffic has
been so beneficial that 1t Is now gen.
orally agreed that the law will stand,
based as it is upon the unassailable
purpose to promote the general well
fare The present-day duty of the
ri of the nation we
believe to be:
81. To magnify the value Of the
principles of total abstinence and the
obligation upon the law abiding citi-
zens to practice the same.
"'2. To make Enthusiastically clear
to both the lawless sellers and the
Iawless buyers Of intoxicants that
the liquor traffic has been ,perma-
nently outlawed in the United States
as the enemy of society. rss
"'3. To urge local, state and fed
eral governments to cooperate with
increas ed vigor against the present
organized resistance to the prohibi-
ton law until as adequate enforce
ment Of that law has been secured as
of any other social legislation
"Tke Administrative Committee
has seen nothing in the report OF the
Research Department to justify any
modification whatever of the position
thus taken by the council on the pro-
hibition issue. The policy of national
prohibition, as the report shows. was
adopted by the American people by
the overwhelming votes Of their cleo
ted legislative assemblies. This poll
icy has been reaffirmed by increas-
ing majorities wherever 1t has been
challenged.
1--WE would remind those otherwise
good citizens, who by their personal
example and public utterances are
lending countenance to those who
violate their country's laws, OF the
reasons which led to the adoption OF
the 18th amendment. 1t 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
social control; second. the belief that
the liquor traffic is such an evil--a
conviction which is gaining strength
all over the world and which has re-
report of the Special Commission on
Drink of the Universal Christian
Conference on Life and Work at
Stockholm: third. the experience
gained by generation Of experiment
with substitutes 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 policy adoped hastily or
without due consideration and 1t is
not to be set aside merely because
great difficulty or even temporary re-
verses are encountered in carrying 1t
out.
THE report makes clear the re-
markable social gains which followed
upon the adoption of prohibition; a
lowering of the death rate from alco-
holic disease, a remarkable lessening
of dependency due to alcoholism, a
other results of a socially desirable
sort. 1t also calls attention to the
part undoubtedly played by prohibi-
tion in improving business and eco
nomic conditions. and, above all,
points out the indisputable advantage
gained by the abolition of the saloon.
At the same time, the report reminds
us that national prohibition has not
vet been given a fair opportunity 70
vindicate is full value to the physical,
economic, social and moral life Of the
nation. and calls attention to serious
dangers to which it is at present ex-
posed.
1.-THE Federal Council gratefully
recognizes the splendid service which
has been rendered by the agencies es-
recially authorized by the churches
which for many decades have labored
+ ersistently 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 a sustained
and constructive effort to uphold the |
regime in order that +!