The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1927-01-01
Threatening the Anti-Saloon League

Threatening the Antl-Saloon League
Quite number of people have been aiming dire threats
the AntiSaoon League lately Invariably these threats
have taken financial form. One distinguished gentleman
threatened that he would close all the churches of his
town against the AntiSa1oon League for generation
and Others have threatened to withdraw their personal
contributions and have made good such threats
To this frame of mind we wish to submit an inquiry
which is "Where do you go from here?" The vets
in the field bitterly attacking the prohibition laws in Con-
gres and the Legislature and the prohibition enforce
in the administrative department of the govern
ment They also seek to undermine the general sen-
in favor of prohibition through the agency of great
metropolitan newspapers, flooding the country with mis-
representations and with open and bitter attacks upon
the whole policy of prohibition.
Are you going to abandon the field to them? Is not
prohibition worth while? Should not destroy the law
less liquor traffic and drive it from country? Shall
protect the children at hresides and in
schools against the aggressive efforts of the
VETS to make them the slaves of drink?
For one hundred years and this country expert
mented in methods of opposing the liquor traffic. They
finally created what known the Anti-Saloon League
which was found to be successful What wisdom is there
in deserving your agency and the only existing
agency through which you attain success hope
for IT, because you disagree and then with its adj
vice? The Anti-Saoon League may be mistaken
and then, but the whole its policies and its advice
have been unusually wise and successful. The probabl
y is that III instances in which you disagree with
it. the League may have been right than its critic.
But if that true such situation does not
in any way justify the critic in abandoning his
agency and throwing aside his defensive weapons.
You do not expect to abandon the fortified position
which necessary hold because your trained gunners
missed the mark they shot Let work together,
friends The enemy is far too vigorous and dangerous
to justify in cherishing misunderstanding.
In the Illinois election, the Anti-Saoon League
endorsed approximately 120 candidates. Almost all of
them elected. Probably not single of these
endorsements made without involving criti-
cism from of friends If the League feared
make endorsements because feared criticisms would
make endorsements. If after thorough study of
the situation it made endorsements and then changed
them because encountered opposition its would
be wavering it would be of value to anybody. If
it changed its endorsement because of threats it would
be too cowardy justify public confidence and support
The fact that almost all the persons endorsed
elected demonstrates the wisdom of its endorsements
and the confidence the general public has in its sugges-
tons.
AS public servant moral aspects of public life
submit that the record made by the AntiSaoon League
usfes the fullest possible support the part of all
who desire the destruction of the liquor traffic and
enforcement of the prohibition law.