Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-05-07
THE VOLSTEAD LAW


There was time, when the Volstead law first went
into effect that we shared the belief of those who opned
that moonshinng bootleggng and drunkenness were
the increase because that law unpopular and IN their
resentment over it. people deliberately violated getting
certain pleasure thrill out OF it. We fully expected
that some time this feeling would continue especially
among people who habitually patronzed saloons in the
past but who moderate drinkers and were usually
orderly and law abiding in their conduct These most OF
all would the Vostead act as being sort OF refec
ment on their personal liberties They felt that them
conduct had deserved such drastic law and they
were right in a sense Naturally they felt about
it. So when occasionally such men INDUCING IN
violation of the liquor laws and seemingly getting some
thrill out of it, not surprised Expected such lit
tie apses to occur for time probably, but great
harm done and in due they would resign themse
to the inevitable and having always been decent
citizens finally submit with grace to the law of the land
as they formerly done This would not be difficult
thing for such people. All that either the Eighteenth
Amendment and the Vostead law required of them
to refrain from the sale and of intoxicating liquors
for beverage purposes. Not one person in hundred
thousand has read either the constitutional amend
ment the Vostead law, yet we dare say that every
and woman and every boy and girl past the fifth
grade in school, knows exactly what these laws ask oil
them and exactly how to obey them That simple the
laws are Merely refrain from the sale and beverage
of intoxicating liquors. No need OF police officer to
warn need of teacher to explain no need OF any
Judge to interpret. AS plain and simple as the
mans face Neither too difficult to obey too comp
Gated to understand So the kind of people to whom
have here referring long since ceased to give
forcement officials any trouble The Vostead law has
not made them worse than ever. In every community
we find them; men who in pre-Vostead days walked
saloons unconcernedy into store, tarred for
a while had glass OF beer or two, chatted few mo-
ents with friends and went their ways had been doing
these things practically all their lives and no wrong
in it. These the and the only men, who had any
right to protest against prohibition the Volstead law
were be blamed for anything it would be because Of
be bamer for anything it would be because of
the reaction of these people to law that suddenly de-
prved them of something they felt they had right to-
And what the reaction of these people? WE'LL take
our Brillion for instance Do you really want to
know what the effect of the Vostead law has been
the business laborng and professional men IN
the town which has had always saloons that they
patr0nzed saloons that sold beer, Whskey and where
they for years accustomed to while away leisure
hours Surely the Votead law must have had decided
influence and effect on business men, craftsmen
and professional men, suddenly attempting to deprive
them of lifelong privilege If the VOlsead law had any
effect good or bad these would be the boys watch
Then what ask again. has been the effect OF the Vol
stead law precisely the people whom it would be ex
pected and whom it intended to effect Are our bust
men, craftemen and professional people doing SIN
gle of the things might expect? Are they doing
anything that would compel to blame the Vostead
law lay crimes at it's door which they never were
guilty of before? Walk up and down Main St. inter
view every of business people; look into the Of
fices where professionals hold FORTH wander along
side and interview the of the comfort
able homes steady, thrifty working practically
all of whom customers of saloons in former years
and who would therefore be directly effected by the Vol
stead law and will you then be able to say that the Vol
stead law has had vicious harmful effect these
people, that it is running their families If there
anything harmful in the Vostead law these the peo
pie who would be suffering On the contrary they
not suffering at ALL They are prospecting they are as
happy and contented as they ever and probably
The Vostead law hasn't done single thing to
them It hasn't made either drunkards or criminals OF
them By stretch of the imagination, by any adj
ducibe evidence it be asserted that law demanding
of the people to refrain from the beverage of ntox
eating liquor will be harmfulif obeyed. And if not obey
ed how blame for the consequences There are only
two classes of people, who would suffer if the VOstead
sinners and booteggers And these the birds not the
Vostead law, that at the bottom of the drinking
ges and the disturbances our streets during dances
when boys and girls moonshne to flow like water
Does the Vostead law ask them to do this And they
doing it merely to defy the Volstead law? Forget it
friends these youngsters don't think about the Vostead
law at all. They think only about having rip-roaring
heuvagood time-and the moonshiners and booteggers
providing the wherewithal IN VIOLATION of the
Vostead law and in violation of every law of morality
But of course if community hides under it's bed
at night while moonshine FLOWS like water on it's
streets during dance, it can't expect the Vostead law
to ring the fire alarm call the police, t?-The
Brillon News.