New Britain herald., 1925-09-16
PROHIBITION FAILS
 AS AID ID MORALS
Not Blamed for DiSrespect for
 Law by Church Council

! Washington, Sert. 16 RL--An ex. ! haustivc discussion of tho effect of 1 prohibition on crime, conditions in acttlement neigh borhoods, drug ad- ] diction, the morals of the young, and respect for law in general was made public last night by the Re search and Education Department Of 1 the Federal Council of Churches as q third section Of its special report on the social consequences of pro hibition laws.
 While pointing out that lack Of complete data makes definite con clusions impossible, the report made these assertions:
 The tendency of young people of the present day to depart from con ventiona rules of behavior cannot be laid entirely at the door of pro hibition but the fact that prohibit ton has made no more decisive ef- feet in heightening their moral tone gives food for earnest though" Crime statistics indicate rapid increase in violations of law, chief ly of the misdemeanor class, hut it is "gratuitous" to blame prohibition, and "all that can be asserted is that prohibition on has thus far not pre- vented in increase in such offenses. V Family Life Improves Available information indicates t1sp n p t hnFl1 nn0 ( there is less drinking and family life has improved under prohibition but that tho law nevertheless is widely violated and "the bootleggor is get ting rich"
 Assertions that prohibition has tended to increase the use or drugs elk definite proof and would appear 10 be untrue.
 "The general impression that re- spect for law Is declining leads many ardent supporters of prohibition 10 believe that i's foes are undermining aU citizenship, while the latter as sert very positively that prohibition has destroyed respect for all law Fortunately, neither contention IS fully supported by facts. The pest authorities in psychology and ednca- tion agree that a persons attitude toward law and government IS not determined with reference to single statute, and that hostiI'tS toward one law does not carry over into the whole field of the citizen responsibility. The attitude Of peo- ple toward their government, al- though if often gives cause for con corn. rests upon a broader basis than the popularity of a single law Every one takes some laws more seriously than others, and necessari- lv so. All laws have mot the same importance and some have greater social sanction than others. For this reason t would seem to be q m1s- take to rest the appeal for obser- vance of prohibition laws merely up on the general duty to 'obey the law Rather, an attitude Of lntel'i- gent sympathy toward the law itso!t must be built up if it is to bc gen orally observed.
 Effects Tn Schools
 Reports of school administration officials and of teachers who have made extensive studies Of moral pro; bIems in the schools give little sup port 10 the theory that prohinitlon is in itself a cause of moral break down, "it continued. It may per haps just as truly be said that II does not appear to be a great asset Certainly. the non-observance or the law by parents has a rather 'ragic effect on boys and girls.
 "In the colleges. undoubtedly' some slarming conditions have de- yeIoped. Even in a conservative oe- nominational college a student mas Lecn known to earn his way through school by bootlegging. The eVl- dcnce, however, seems to indicate favorable trcud at the present timf; ot least this is the opinion Of nearly all the college deans consulted, ana it receives some measure Of support from other sources"