The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1926-10-01


tuonal Prohibition the country somewhat pre-
mature1y But he adds that latter an examination of all
the data have estimated that the flow of alcohol down
human throats in the United States is at present
tanly less than 10 per cent probably less than 10 per
cent, and possibly less than per of the prepro-
hbition consumption" For this reason, and because
of facts forth in the book tending to show that
recruits the army of drunkards are sackening
among the young first offenders Professor Fisher urges
that prohibition be continued
In his eyewitness story chairman of the Wartime
Conference Alcohol of the Council of National De-
fence Professor Fisher that the limited trial period
of prohibition during time and year there
after, which his committee had recommended, finally
passed only after Congress had voted submit the
Eighteenth Amendment for ratification by the States.
In fact, time prohibition did take effect until af
ter the over, and then served merely a stop
gap between the adoption of Constitutional prohibition
and its taking effect permanently.
The premature adoption of Constitutional prohibition,
"before certain sections notably the and the great
Cities prepared for it by education, Professor
Fisher lays the door of the United States Brewers
Association. That Association, he asserts fought
standstill the trial advocated by his commit
tee so that President Wilson asked that it be with
drawn in order that the Lever Food Bill, which
attached a rider might be passed. at the brew
ers,' he says, "who had won, for their influence had
caused the h1buster that compelled the President to
make his request"
How the brewers organized against Wartime prohl-
bon is explained by Professor Fisher follows: "In
the of sounding out public opinion had sent
several hundred kilograms business leaders and others
asking whether they favored war time prohibition.
Most business and practically all economists ap-
proved of prohibition measure. 1t SO hap
pened that of the kilograms reaching business
who disapproved OF the proposal handed to
brewer.
"The brewers forces had long been superb1y
ganized for action and they proceeded train
their machine guns the members of the Council of
National Defense. One member, Mr.. Gompers |
told received fifty kilograms in single day protesting
against any wartime prohibition. limitations threats
were made that any such action taken, the Coun
Gil of National Defense would be put of business.
The fight then transferred Professor Fisher says
to Congress- where the measure again blocked by
the 6libuser. at indirect result of this
ond defeat of rme prohibition he explains, chat
Constitutional prohibition about The brewers
found that, unwtngy, they had jumped of the fry
ing pan into the fire.
personally l had been very reluctant to Con-
stitutional prohibition tried until time prohibition
had been tried first To me, prohibition was, and is,
merely experiment in the long fight against ALCOHOL
and l feared see that experiment tried permanently
and irrevocaby until after it had been tested temporar
lily.
"My own program and that of the committees with
which had worked to get wartime prohibition
acted its merits for the duration of
the war and for year thereafter Then the basis
of the record of wartime prohibition and after all
hysteria over, permanent prohibition might prop
erly be submitted.
National Prohibition Comes Too Soon
"What actually happened that Constitutional pro-
hbition came first The resolution submitting it to the
States passed the Senate August l. 1917, and the House
her