The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-27
PROHIBITION CAN
Be MADE REAL
Continued From Page u

wrong; it IS either injurious to us
as nation or it is not; it is either
an evil morally and socially, or it
is not.
If it is not wrong. not injurious,
not an evil. let us entirely repeal
the amendment and stop fooling.
Make Law Drastic
IF it is wrong, is injurious, is an
evil, let us not moderate our enforce
ment laws, but, on the contrary,
make them as drastic as possible.
Is it reasonable to suppose that
persons who may buy, sell and
otherwise unlawfully handle liquor
of 40 per cent alcohol, through pref
erehce alone, when the legal limit
is less than u of per cent alcohol,
will, through preference alone, vol
UNFAIRLY shift to per cent limit?
I say through preference only, for
why should a man confine himself
TO Z per cent liquid just because it
has become legal when for years
he has used 40 per cent stuff, which
was illegal? He prefers 40 per cent
drinkables and will continue to use
them no matter what laws we have.
Is the object of prohibition to stop
drunkenness? If it is, we must shut
off all liquors with alcoholic con-
tents.
Break Up Whole Trade
Even in Philadelphia, with
practically no help from the
courts, and other legal aid, with
m. only two or three judges sincerely
doing their best to help, n few
hundred policemen put big dent
in the rum trade, and had the
support been genuine, all along
the line, it would have been ex-
tremeIy difficult to buy liquor in
Philadelphia.
If liquor is wrong, we should
make every effort for the benefit OF
succeeding generations, and not
weakly fold our hands. lie down and
say it is too much trouble. Such
course Is not worthy Of us as ma
ton.
Face the issue squarely, lay aside
all political bunk and either
knock it out with a club or let 1t re
main, but by all means stop this
shadow boxing.
Prohibition Stays, View
Prohibition has come to stay. I am
convinced. 1t is no longer a ma
tional issue, but local one.
Metropolitan cities like Philadelphia
are wet, but the people as a whole
are dry, and | believe Philadelphia
would go dry if an honest vote of
the whole people could be taken.
/ have frequently been asked if
the law is a success, If it can be
enforced.
In answer I say that the con-
stitutional amendment Is certainly
the first great step in the right
direction, that the national enforce
ment act is a second but should
have more teeth in it, that the en-
forcement act of Pennsylvania is de-
Mcidedly faulty and probably was
hever intended to accomplish any
lll4HS' out cuED the use Oh UQuOr on
she part Of the so.called working
classes. while it does not and was
never designed to interfere with the
so-called personal freedom Of the
well-to.do and influential.
Better Than None
However, it is letter than no law.
ana If 1t does nothing else it gives
the opportunity to keep the issue
squarely before the people, who will
eventually see it that completely
efficient laws are passed, that prom.
or and drastic punishments are pro.
Vided for violators and that honest
men, faithful to their oaths. are
placed in public office.
In other words, no confirmed
drunkards will be placed ON the
benches Of our courts, and no
bOotleggers appointed to positions
. lzz NHUNyEsWwI