Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-10-12
Julos
WILLIAM II. TAFT
Point-A-Pic, Canada.

My Dear Mr.. Lincoln: You ask me il
YOU may hand to Mr.. Osborn, for publica-
ton, my letter to you Of June 8. 1918. on
national prohibition. There are some
reasons for my views which would have
elaborated had expected the letter to be
published. Therefore, please publish with
that letter the following
"A national prohibition amendment to
the Federal Constitution will be adopted
against the views and practices of ma
jority Of the people in many OF the large
cities and in fourth or less OF the States.
The business of manufacturing alcohol,
liquor and beer will 60 out of the hands
OF law-abding members of the community
and will be transferred to the quas-crimi
nal class. In the communities where the
majority will not sympathiZe with the Fed
eral laws restrictions large numbers Of
Federal officers will be needed for its en-
fOrcement The central Government now
has very wide war powers. When peace
comes these must end, if the republic is to
be preserved.
IF, however, a partisan political head of
the Internal Revenue Department. or of a
separate department created for the pur
pose, shall always be able through Federal
detectives and policemen to reach into every
hamlet and to every ward, and to every
purlieu of a large city, and use the leverage
of an intermittently lax and strict enforce
ment of the law against would-be dealers
in liquor and their patrons, he will WELD a
sinister power, prospect of which should
make anxious the friends of free cOnstitu-
tiOnal government.
IA new broom sweeps clean. A tenn
poraTy national prohibition law as a war
measure may be effective. IL is urged to
stimulate war production in the emergency
and to take temptation from our soldiers.
though it is doubtful whether the serious
loss to the national revenues which 1t will
entail may not outweigh the actual benefits
The Immediately useful operation of such
law or a new State prohibition law is not
convincing evidence Of its ultimate ten
dency and result The community must
summer and winter it for years
After the law-abiding members of the
business 60 out Of the business and com
plete readjustment follows. the pressure for
violation and lax execution in c0mmuni-
| ties where the law is not popular will be
constant and increasing. The reaching
out of the great central power TO brush
the dOorsteps of local communities. far
removed geographically and politically
from Washington. will be irritating in
such States and communities, and will be
a strain upon the bond OF the national
Union 1t will produce variation in the
enforcement of the law There will be
loose administration in spots all over the
United States and politically inclined
national Administration will be strongly
tempted TO acquiesce in such condition.
Elections will continuously turn on the
| rigid or languid execution OF the liquor
| A "A In
The eveT-present issue will confuse and
prevent clear and clean-cut popular de-
cisions on the most important national
questions and the politics Of the nation
will be demoralized as the politics Of
States have been through this cause The
issue will never be settled.
The theory that the national Govern
ment can enforce any law will yield TO the
stubborn circumstances. and a Federal
law will become as much a subject of con
tempt and ridcule in some parts Of the
nation as laws of this kind have been in
some States We are acting now under
the heroic impulse OF a war which stirs
our feelings and makes US think we can have
a millennium OF virtue and self-sacrifce
for the future This is a fundamental
error. | profoundly deptecate having our
constitutional structure seriously amended
nv a feyerish enthusiasm. which will aba,e
10 NEGLECT and laxity in many States as
the wears 90 on. II through the abnormal
DsychOloey Of war the thirty-six States are
induced 10 approve a national prohibition
amendment now. we can never change II,
though great majority Of the people may
come later to see its utter failure. Thlr-
teen prohibition States can always be
counted on to prevent retractlng OF the
foolish step. We shall thus hang per-
manent milestone around our necks.
individual self-restraint, the influence
of improved social standards and criticism
and the restrictions enforced by employers
of labor for industrial reasons have PROB
ably had more to do with modefatlng the
evils of intoxication than statute law. !
would not minimize. however. the adVan-
taee of the removal OF the temptation OF
access TO liquor by law when the law Is
backed by local public opinion and can be
enforced
Nor is my conviction affected by any
sympathy with those who are engaged In
: the manufacture or sale Of intoxicating
. liquors. Ii is now nearly half century
ago since the Supreme Courts interpreta-
tIon of the Federal Constitution warned
everyone engaged in the business that he
invested capital therein at the full risk OF
lis being declared unlawful and OF the
consequent loss that future legislation