Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-22
Believes Prohibition
Law Is Here to STAY

To the Editor of The Star:
believe the eighteenth amendment
is wrong in principle, and that the
general results of prohibition there
under in their influence upon our social
life and political institutions are calam-
itous. But in my judgment, for the
reasons hereinafter given, all discussion
and efforts for its elimination are an
idle waste of time. Any political party
that goes before the country on a wet
platform is fcredoomed to ignominious
defeat: and for that reason the recent
Republican convention showed great
political prudence and sagacity in re-
jecting the proposal of DR., Butler to
incorporate wet plank in its plat
form.
The reasons are not far to seek. Tho
great majority of voters in the United
States live in the country districts and
small towns. They are Overwhelmingly
in favor for prohibition for too many
reasons to give them all in this COM
munication. These people do not see
and understand the great evils of pro-
hibition as we of the cities do, but
they do see and appreciate the indis-
putable benefits in general it has
brought to their communities, which
are in such marked contrast to the
conditions that prevailed in the days
of the licensed saloon. They know
that liquor is still procurahle in their
localities. though with difficulty, but
even SO. they cannot forget the old
order with its drunken brawls, and dis
orders on Saturdays and holidays. and
vicious influence of the liquor interests
in their local politics and social life
in such marked contrast to the peace
nn1A arlnP thrift that
vail among them. Lurking in the
back of their heads to fortify them In
their unalterable opposition to any
change in the present laws with all
their alleged evils is the fear and not
without some Justification. that the
saloon. with all its social and political
evils will return should the law be
abrogated or even modified.
The insuperable difficulty of putting
any social reforms on a sound and prac-
ticable basis in the United States Is due
to the fact that we are not logical and
practical people. and that we have more
than our share of fanatics and hypocrit-
ical hurAhugs who insist upon making
a religious and moral issue Of every pro-
posed reform that in It's essentials is
solely social and economic. The sale
and consumption of liquors is not a
moral or religious question. There Is
nothing morally wrong in either, and
they cannot be made so by law. In
matters of this kind. affecting personal
habits as old rs man himself people will
submit to regulation, but not to prohibi-
ton. A proper and practical regula-
ton of this matter could have beer
made effective, because 1t would have
received the universal support of the
people without which no law can be
enforced.
1t is vain suggestion, but, In my
Judgment, the solution of the question
! should have been left to the respective
States. where 1t belongs under every
/ principle of our institutions; and the
| Federal Government should have enact
| ed laws, which II already had ample
| constitutional power 10 do, III aid o.
| the enforcement of the prohibition OF
| other regulatory laws Of any State
which should adopt such a policy. II
! this way no violence would have beer
done our institutions, those sections oil
| tire country that wanted prohibition
| could have had II, and their laws relat'
| ing thereto could, with the honest CO.
| operation of the Federal Government
/ have been enforced. because they woulo
have had the sanction OF public senti'
ment behind them,
Knowing the country as believe DO
my conclusion is that there Is no pos
sibility of the abrogation OF the eight,
zenith amendment, or much hKellnooo
of any material changes IN the pronioi-
ton laws. But there is the probability
of these laws becoming more and more
disrerarded in those sections OF the
country where the sentiment reSpectine
them Is lukewarm or in opposition, until
the time may come when these laws III
such sections will fall into utter innocu-
GUS desuetude. In the meantime we are
paying terrible and terrifying. price for
this mobile experiment" and nm all
! wise Providence only knows what the
end may be In It's effects upon the NOR
ais Of our people, our social order ana
political institutions
ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER'