Evening star., 1925-10-13

Is the world going dry or wet =?
The drys Of the United states are
taunted with statements that Euro.
pean countries have been more sue
cessful in curbing liquor without pro
hibttion than this country has done
with the law. but with all their sue
cess "over there" Europe is backshd-
ing into the wet.
with a concession from Russia that
1t Is impossible to go dry, with the
confession Of Sweden that II is lInpos'
sibIe 70 prevent smuggling. and that
II is better that the people should
drink pure" LIQUOR and that the gov.
ernment should profit by the revenue
from it's alleged monopoly, the argu'
rnent Is advanced by our antt-prohibi-
tionists that therefore, II must De
mere stubbornness Of 1anatlcal
minority In the United States which
would hold out against the repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment and res
toration of the liberty to drink as
much alcohol as one wants. Some OF
the news appears to be contradictory
What Is truth?".
:: n < =
The Russ!anfSoviet government has
held a monopolistic control over the
sale Of vodka ever since II came into
power, and now. after IL years OF
limitation 10 a content of 80 per
cent alcohol BY weight. the lid is
taken of" and 1t becomes legal TO
sell vodka containing 40 per cent al
cohol. That IS the only legal change
and Il went into effect October .,
after many months Of agreement that
such increased strength would be
permitted at that date.
Most moderate drinkers" in Amer
lea would concede that a drink OF
which practically one-third is raw al
cohol Is somewhat intoxicating. Wine,
which contains a third as much aico
hol as the former vodka, Is scarcely
classed with the much wanted light
wines" Russians have never beer
deprived Of their liberty to become
drunk, but the news that their vodka
ls a third stronger than it has been
In recent years so played upon their
appetites that long queues formed
before every wine shop and grocery
and the people went on grand de
bauch. The first days drunk killed
eight victims in Moscow. Reports
from other regions have not been ca
bled.
While the legal percentage Of alcoho
has been changed. the cables report
that that increase is the least Of the
changes, since practically all restric
tions have been taken of from the
manufacture and sale Of vodka anc
other intoXicants. The first weeks con
sumption of vodka throughout Rus
sia is estimated at 5000, 900 quartz
more than 2,0o0,oo6 quarts Of alcohol
In fact. 1t Is reported that, now that
there are no restrictions. much Of the
liquor would test so per cent alcohol OF
more.
This is the people who would bring
about a world revolution and plunge
all governments into anarchy" com
ments a leader in American law en-
forcsment, but whom the gods would
destroy, they first make-drunk."
The excuse Of the Soviet leaders for
unrestricted vodka is based on ece
nomics. They allege that 1t Is not IN
tended to encourage the use Of vodka
but that the change was authorized
merely to put a stop to the improvi
dent use Of rye and wheat In making
moonshine At home" Vodka can bs
made not Only OF grain, but also of po
tatoes and other articles Of food. 1t Is
claimed that to convert these raw MA
terials into intoxicants instead OF
food, Is more profitable. By increasing
the home consumption OF vodka, in the
present spree, the demand Is greatly
Increased. and the incentive to SO
make II passes from the home to the