Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-09

W0men's Christian ASSOCIATIONS OF
america, in contention assem- 6fed,
desire to 90 on record for the 06-
Scrrdnce Of ldtr. and especially for
the strict enforcement of the 18TH
amendment In dnSrcr to the open
letter to the associations regarding
citizenship and legislation pro-
gram for the coming biennial 1896
1928, the ono item desired By all
tch0 replied 1rdS lac observance
and la,c enforcement"
Needless to add that Mrs. John NJ.
Hanna of Dallas. Tex. present presi-
dent (holding office 1926-192S) of the
Young Women's Christian Association
of the United States of America. is
firmly on the dry side of the prohibit
ton question. Not only officially so,
but convincedly personally so, and
here is her first and foremost reason:
High ideals. clean living, straight
thinking" says she in the charming
Southern accent that scores of So
journs in the North have not compro-
missed, "go with abstention from
liquor. l would like America to give
the eighteenth amendment fair trial,
which feel we have never done.
II recently heard DR.. T. 2. Koo Chi
nese man of letters, speak of the i'm
patience of Americans in expecting
their new laws to work so quickly.
1--WE Chinese said he. think In
centuries; you think in years.
THAT remark confirms my theory
that seven years, or any number of
years which do not compass one gen
Grafton, are too few to judge results.
Look at some other reforms that have
been of slow but steady growth. Duel
ing, for example. held public favor for
centuries, just as the drys say drink.
ing does. But is was not until dueling
was forbidden by law that it passed
slowly out.
Expects Complete Success.
"Lynching. too-that terrible blot
upon our South. And how long it
took in passing! But today it has
passed. or nearly SO, because people
have come gradually to see the wrong
in taking law into their own hands
rather than helping to see that jus.
tice is administered through court
processes. Little by little, the Ameri.
can people. in whom l have such
faith will see the good intention be-
hind the prohibition amendment,
grow friendly toward it, and finally
abide by it.
I'VE have proof that the majority
favor it, not only by its passage after
long and careful consideration. but
by the fact that candidates for office,
no matter how popular and moral
they may be personally. rarely win
out in an election If they are wet
This is most emphatically so in the
parts Of the South I know"
You don't think there is likelihood
OF the repeal or modification of the
Volstead law?"
An emphatic shake of a head
crowned with silver hair.
None. The drys have faith in
their law and in the willingness Of
good citizens to keep it. Once made,
it should stand. The people make
the laws. They owe loyalty to the
representatives through whom they
pass these laws. The great majority
wanted prohibition-want 1t still. What
else can the minority do in a repub.
lie than live by the wish of the ma.
jority?"
Law, Once Made, Is Sacred"
1.-THE minority has always the right
to agitate, to alter objectionable laws
ii it is strong enough. The minority
can always become the majority IL II
is able to convince others of the sound.
ness OF It's arguments. Law, once
made. is sacred and should be treated
with respect and dignity.
THE facts, admit, are that many
do not respect the law. Unhappily.
some of our best people find no dig
nifty In this law. But instead of say
ing. Then let us break it, they should
say, Let us be loyal citizens and keep
1t faithfully, even at personal incon-
venience. so long as it Is our law.
and prove its potency"
We called Mrs. Hanna's attention to
the fact that New York's woman
magistrate, Judge Jean H. Norris, CD.
poses prohibition with the contention
that 1t leads to an increase In youth
full delinquency and crime.
That" replies Mrs. Hanna, us to
be laid at the door of the elders. It is
the older generation that sets the ex.
ample. and then inveighs against
youth for following it. We make
youth a scapegoat."
To the argument of many who Cd.
pose prohibition in the belief that 1t is
based on wrong psychology and Is a
menace to the law order, decency and
temperance, Mrs. Hanna answers:
Interpreting Human Nature.
Such opposition is to be expected
because the law is new and suddenly
forbids an evil which many have not
regarded as an evil simply because 1t
is Of long standing. There was a
time when killing or plundering was
not thought wrong. Yet today no nor.
NAL person takes the law into his own
hands when it comes to murder or
Selling property"
We reminded Mrs. Hanna that both
vets and drys array themselves on
the side Of the weak. The vets would
repeal the Volstead law so that the
young, and those who tend toward
moral turpitude may be protected
against themselves. The drys use the
same argument.
Our lady from Texas smiled. IL
know. 1t is a matter of interpreting
human nature. I believe the eight.
zenith amendment will eventually re-
move temptation from the morally
turpitudinous. To my mind, there is
no way to make a righteous nation
but by setting high standards for
public behavior.
Il do not believe that merely to for
bid a thing makes the average person
crave 1t. It makes the average person
think about 1t. Prohibition then be
comes educational-and the problem