Evening star., 1925-09-14
The Prohibition Survey.

<EeSults or q survey or the social
consequences Of prohibition. under
taken by the research and education
department OF the Federal Council OF
Churches Of Christ in this country
are now being published. From the
initial installment, which is today
printed, it appears that the research
was conducted without prejudice Or
previous conviction, sincere effort
upon the public morals and the condi-
tion Of the people. 1t is not con.
elusive finding. Yet the specific show
ing rendered by this first publication.
relative to home conditions, is crafty
ing to the advocates of prohibition and
supplies a powerful argument for its
continuance.
From replies to a QUESTIONABLE sent
to members of the National Confer
ence OF Social Work-270 out Of 200
esponding-certain definite indica-
tions appear of better conditions. In
practically all cases homes are better
furnished since prohibition was writ.
ten into the law, and in likewise vir-
tually all instances wives and families
get larger proportions OF the husbands
income. In most cases marital rela.
tions are improved, and in almost all
instances sanitary and health condi-
tions are better. Similarly in q very
large percentage Of cases the mental
health of the home is improved. A
slight decrease in children's delin.
quency is indicated, but a ma ajority OF
reports indicate an increase in drink
ing by young people. A considerable
decrease in cases of malnutrition
among children is shown. Most of the
reports show that liquor for minors is
less accessible. The attitude toward
law enforcement and respect for laws
in general is reported to be worse.
These returns are not to be accepted
as conclusive. They are, as the report
states, only partially significant"
Many OF the social workers declined to
fill out the questionable, expressing
the fear that guesses rather than facts
would be -elicited. Nevertheless the
trend OF those opinions that were ex--
pressed Is that home conditions have
improved, and that save in the point
Of increased drinking by young peo-
pie there has been a gain for society
since the enactment Of the law.
Later installments OF this report will
shed further light upon the nature Of
the research and the value of it's con-
clusions. 1t is evident that the survey
was undertaken in an unprejudiced ef.
fort to determine in a broad spirit the
actual consequences Of national pro-
hibition. Thus far the indication is
that domestic conditions have ma.
terially improved. Opponents Of pro-
hibition will find in the report some
encouragement in respect to the in
conclusive showing Of an attitude of
increasing disrespect for law. Advo-
Gates will find in it encoura cement in
living conditions and the marital rela.
tons and child welfare among the
working people. There is, in short, in
this initial presentation. which SO fair
ly states the case, occasion for re-
joicing by both friends and enemies
Of the eighteenth amendment and the
enforcement law. But nothing in the
report, so far as it has been given
out, encourages the thought that pro-
hibition, whatever its effects, is losing
ground in public favor to an extent
to warrant belief in it's repeal or ma
terial modification if the question were
submitted to a referendum.