Evening star., 1925-07-25

leggers. This is the sort of thing
that can be encountered, and that is
encountered in virtually every large
sized Western community this writer
has visited. 1t is no more and no
less than what is notoriously taking
place every day in Washington itself
"a condition, by the way, well known
in the West.
But the acid test of how prohibit
ton is working in the West seems TO
an observer to be the difficulty Of
purchasing liquor, by the drink or in
bulk, If and when the average indi-
vidual attempts it. Open sale simply
does not exist in these sections. A
stranger arriving in any Western COM
munity who would try to buy liquor
would find it as good as impossible TO
do so. An obliging bootlegger, with
effort, probably could be located, but
traffic in drink is wholly surrepti-
tious. 1t has been driven out of sight
Every one who INDUCES in it. either
as buyer or seller. works in the dark
because of the fear of detection, pun
ishment and disgrace.
Drys Are Confident.
Westerners, who believe in prohibi-
ton, assert that this condition of IT
law, broadly speaking, is in satisfac-
tory operation. 1t is not perfectly en-
forced, they acknowledge, any more
than the laws against burglary and
murder are perfectly enforced But
the dry element, surveying the i'm
possibility of liquor purchase except
in stealth. contends that prohibition
is in as effective operation as the Ma
ton has right to expect in the case
or law so new and so drastic an in
terference with an age-old habit of the
human race The drys of the West
are confident, despite notorious en-
1orcement failures, that the trend of
respect for the law is steadily upward
All this having been said, it would
be inaccurate to convey the impress
sion that the wet movement. as a
political proposition. has subSided in
the West. Undoubtedly, it has not
subsidized. In the 1926 congressional
elections in more than one Western
State, prohibition will be live issue.
II will not be an issue which candi-
dates for the House, Senate or gov
ernorshipS will openly espouse In ac-
cordance with time honored precedent
since 1919, party platforms again may
be expected to vie with one another in
devotion to law enforcement But
throughout the West today there is
any quantity of aspiring statesmen
who are preparing to tempt Fate next
year and cadge for votes on their
bare regulations for leaning toward
more liberal prohibition laws.
Issue i'm Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, for instance, which
VIII be the scene Of bitter contest in
the Republican senatorial primaries
between Senator Lenroot and Gov
John j. Blaine. liquor will figure con
splcuousiy. Lenroot ranks as an un
compromising dry. Blaine is reputed
to list in the direction of light wines
and beer-the popular epitome of the
thing the modifcationists pretend tc
want. Wisconsin, with its hordes ot
voters Of German extraction, is pret
" moist territory. 1t may well be
that Blaine's mere repute as a we,
may be the decisive factor in his bout
with Lenroot. The governor, il should
De noted, because the circumstance is
highly significant. will not have tc
come straight out for amendment OF
repeal of national prohibition. The
suspicion will only have to obtair
popular circulation that Blaine's per
sonal inclinations are in that direc
ton. If 1t does. he will get tens OF
thousands of votes from Wisconsin
men and women who are so thirsty
that they are ready to give their votes
10 any man who simply seems tc
sympathize with their longings
whether they believe he has any
power to crafty them or not
here, In the State of Washington
the 1926 senatorial race may be mark
ed by something of the same sort
Senator Wesley l.. Jones, Republican
comes up for reelection. He is one
OF the most uncompromising prohibi
tloniSts In Congress and in the United
states. He is ardent on the subiec
TO the point Of subjecting himself IL
his own State to the charge of beins
fanatic. He is also what is know
as a strong church man, with reli
giouS convictions as firm and deyou
as his prohibitionist views
Jones record at Washington. II
House and Senate, is a long ant
creditable one. He has achieved {
seniority in the Senate which is con
sidered a great asset to Washington
State, although there is a little re
sentiment that the author of the ship
ping act has never captured one O
the two Shipping Board commissioner
ships assigned to the coast for {
Washington man.
Vets Threaten Jones.
I have asked a score of people IL
| Spokane and Seattle about Senator
Jones prospects for reelection. Vir
tually without exception, they sait
that his one possible danger is hi