The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1928-05-01


The -prohibitionSt is wont to set I'D
straw men to knock them down, then
point to his valorous deeds. The sale of
alcoholic liquor for beverage purposes is
not based upon any assumption that the
drinking OF liquor either in moderation or
excess is a crime per Sc but it is based
upon the anti-social character of the act
or drinking which renders the individual
who drinks unfit to perform his positive
obligations to society and which may
make him a positive menace to society.
1t IS in the may of the matter that the
right to prohibit the manufacture, sale
and distribution of alcoholic beverages
rests. 1t is because there is a possibility
of harm coming to the group from the
use of liquor by an individual that the
manufacture, sale and distribution of it is
prohibited. We do not wait until man
armed to the teeth runs amuck upon the
public streets and actually kills somebody
before his weapons are taken away from
him. We prohibit the individual from
having the arms in his possession because
of the possibility of even a sane man
using them improperly and with danger
to the safety of the general public.
THE SCIENTIFIC TRUTH
But Mr.. du Pont says, "The drinking OF
liquor in moderation is not a proved in
furious act" Injurious to whom and how
much? In the case of Crowley V. Chris
Jensen above cited, the Supreme Court
said:
ut Is urged that as the liquors are
used as beverage and the injury fol-
lowing them, if taken in excess, is
voluntarily inflicted and is confined to
the party offending their sales should
be without restrictions, the contention
hnIv hot hot -I1oII
equally with what he shall eat is not
properly matter for legislation
There is in this position an assumption
OF fact 10hich does not eriSt-that
1Ohen the liquors are taken in erceSS,
the injuries are confined to the party
Offending. The injury, it is true, first
falls upon him in his health which
the habit undermines; in his morals,
which it Weakens, and in self-abase-
ment, which it creates But, as 1t
leads to neglect of business and waste
of property and general demoraliza-
ton, it affects those who are i'm
mediately connected with and de-
pendent upon him"
But says Mr. du Pont:
"This refers only to liquors taken in ex-
cess I said the drinking of liquor in
moderation is not a proved injurious act "
Now Mr. du Pont and his organization
undoubtedly employ highly-trained chem
lists Mr. du Pont undoubtedly has a per-
Sonal physician to look after his health
Will Mr.. du Pont be willing to accept the
scientifically trained judgment of these
men as to whether or not he is right?
The success of the du Pont Powder Co is
dependent largely upon the fact that it
has accepted and adapted to it's use in
formation of a scientific and of an
economic character Is Mr.. du Pont will
ing to accept scientific truth only for
business reasons because it makes him
dollars and does he reject it when it in
terfereS with his personal views upon the
subject of prohibition? Why is it that
men refuse to accept truth because they
do not like it? Is Mr.. du Pont not aware
that scientists of Germany, as well as of
England and America join in the ir-
resiStible conclusions from myriads of eX-
periments and have established as beyond
question the fact that the use of even So
called light alcoholic beverages such as
beer and wine is a menace to the human
body and its functions? Why will Mr.. du
Pont accept scientific truth in the bust
ness world and refuse to accept it as ap-
piled to the liquor problem?
PROVINCIALISM OF MIR. DU POINT
Mr.. du Pont says:
1.-THE great majority of our people
have no respect for this kind of law
prohibition) even if they think good
has come of it or are willing to observe
It,"