Putnam patriot., 1929-03-28
PROHIBITION IS A RELIGION

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 PROHIBITION IS A RELIGION
 (Liberty for March 30, 1929)
 IL would seem that prohibition it. self has become a religion in this country. 1t inspires in it's followers the same devotion and spirit of eonse- cration as are aroused by the various other forms of religious faith. In the minds of it's proponents, prohibit tion is more a matter of religion than of economies or Jaw.
 In its essence 1t has nothing to do with Christianity The point has of ten been made that Jesus was q mak- CT and user of wine.
 By this of course we do not mean that it is not widely accepted belief of many Christian people. Many de vout Christians are devoted prohibi- iioni ts just aa they are sincere Re publlcnns: but prohibition has noth- ing Co do with the religion Christ taught
 Methodists and Baptists generally are among the most exemplary of of Christians. And Methodists and Baptists generally believe in prohibit ton. But in SO doing they have added something te their Christian belief. And because this matter of prohibition is in dispute it has become the part of their religion which they are the most determined to enforce on themselves and on others. There in, we think. lies the error.
 n Iu4. Ea part of those who practice it is ad- mirable II frequently improves the character, health, spirits, temper, longevity, and poeketbooks of it's ad- herents. The same can be said of going to church or abiding by the ten cts of any of the established religions. They are acts of faith.
 But abstinence is most valuable according to our way of thinking, when il is praeticed voluntarily. To this the prohibitionists do not agree. They seek to impose their belief in il on other people, and this is where heat and passion come in.
 As we write, law has just been enacted greatly increasing the maxi. mum penalties for violation of the Nolstead act It's sponsors sav that t Is not to apply to amateur offenders -only professional bootleg yeTs. But this is not mandatory in the law Under its provisiona a judge ma5 send you Go prison for five years fol carrying e flask t9 q November foot ball game.
 Tho Spanish lnauisition made i possible Co drive the Jews and Pro teslants og; of Spain by tine use oi the rack and thnmhscrew, but it il doubtful if the rack and screw vii be permitted the drys in their at tempts Co cxtirpate the vets. Short however. of using torture or at leas the death penalty upon people. it i hard to make them change their reli gion by passing laws.
 And even if capital punishmen should come as the next step, W, don't believe 1t will wipe cut the us' of liquor. The desire for liquor 1T some hearts is so intense that it vii drive man Co ruin his family ana prospects to get it Others. not g, extreme, simply know what the, want and are willing Co pay for 1t.
 The point is, they don't think it il wrong
 The American is a pretty individ ual kind of bird. He came over her, to escape restraint and get religiou freedom. When a law seems to hin tyrannical he opposes the law, and h, has always done so. Such peopl, think it better to fight for freedom than to give up without a struggle.
 Prohibition is not a part of the re ligion of the Jewish people. nor oi the Catholics or EpiScopalians. AnS of course there Is vast number ol people belonging to no established church who do not like to have th, religious tenets of other people fore ed upon them. Among these ther, are many who abstain from liquor for economic reasons, Co please the little woman, or because they got a head ache the last time out. That is an ad. mirahle thing but we do not think it admirable Co try to compel them Co abstinence because the Methodist and Baptists believe in it.
 The fathers Of this country were right in providing for various forms of religious freedom and thought the right to worship and think as one likes. lt would be better if some sim liar degree of latitude ia conduct on. tered into the consideration of the liquor problem. SO that those who