The producers news., 1930-03-21
Friday, March n, 1880.
PROHIBITION ROUTED

AuSSudS, IAe AlCeTdry OlgeSI, containing the
second report of its nationwide poll on prohibi-
ton arrived.
1t discloses what the Producers News has many
times contended, what the American Temperance
League has proclaimed that prohibition as an in
strument for the promotion of temperance had
absolutely failed that the people are tired of it.
and will welcome the opportunity to substitute
something better in the place of it.
The Producers News has also insisted that IN
less something constructive was offered as a sub
stltute for prohibition, the people in disgust
would turn to complete repeal of the 18th
Amendment, and the return of the control of the
liquor traffic to the several states, which in many
cases VIII mean the return of the old open saloon
and all of its attendant evils-which means a re-
action from one extreme to another-the re-epal-
lzng and re-establishng of the liquor traffic thus
losing all of the ground gained in the fight
against John Barleycorn
AND TINS is just what is going to happen unless
the vote is directed into government control
channels.
The Literary Digest poll is convincing. It has
prestlge, because of its remarkable accuracy in
the presidential straw votes in 1920 1924 and
1928 Those who have fingers on the public puIs.
know that the poll is accurate.
Inc poll indicates the reputation of the prob-
Dltlon forces, the national reputation of the An
u-oaloon League and the Methodist and similar
renglous groups which have been taking an alto
Se"ner LOO prominent part in American politics
Inc american people are no more in favor of the
political activities of the Methodist oroaniza+ion
than of the Catholics, and they are thru with
SKY pilot interference in government for a time
at least -N
The poll provides for an expression on three
propositions namely: (1) for prohibition and +bo
enforcement of the Volstead Act: (2) for nrohibi
ton and the modification of the YoIstead Act al
lowing light wines and beers; (3) and for the ro-
peal of the 18th Amendment and a retnrr of +ho
regulation of the liquor traffic to the legislatures
OF the several states. There is no expression nro
Vloed Tor on the proposition of revising the 18Th
amendment allowing the distribution of alcoholic
beverages at cost and under strict control bv
means of the Federal Dispensarv.
why the proposition was not submitted we do
not know-fOr there had been plenty of discussion
OF the control plan to justify it, and the snbmis-
sion OF the proposition would surely have clarified
puohc opinion much better than the present noIl s
doing can do.
Inc second report of the Digest Doll shows
tO0'Soo votes returned, for twenty states and the
Dstrlct OF Columbia, disclosing 191 9O9 votes for
promoltlon, 224,141 for modification and 2S78S5
-NP~"A VIC ASPSd1 luea leaQ1ng the other two
propositions
But what does the vote mean? Wbo+ :; A.
trouble with the poll? 1t is not clear The VOTE
Tor prohibition is understandable: the voto fo, -
peal may mean what it seems or if NAV NOT r.
instance, we ASK does those who voted for ro1
WANT 10 return to the old saloon do thew want 70
ie'urh 10 state control, or do they actually want
" revise Cne 18th Amendment in order tn allow
congress 10 establish Federal Dispensarv9 Nov
tne writer voted for repeal, because it was +bo
nearest TO his convictions-but we are no+ - f
OF repeal and the return of the regulation of +bo
hquor traffic to the several states and = 4
places the restoration of the saloon. We want +bo
Federal dlspensary. We know of a numbor ,,ho
VoVed the same way. 1t is necessary to revise +to
Ioth Amendment in order to get this disnensarv
now turning our attention to the modifoo+;o,
vote: what about it Does it mean that tbo ,,o+
es are really for prohibition and for modification
VI 1he Volstead Act that will allow light wines
ana Oeers-O%O beer and say 1919 wine? We
OeieVe IL! is the modification vote wet or
~: IN reduclng the poll to its lowest denomin-
auon should the modification vote he ioinad ,,,;th
the dry or with the wet? IF II sbo,'II - "-eA
sidered dry, the vote stands 416O5O oroi,.. -,
70 1of'oSo for repeal. If the modificatior -
considered wet IN the last ANALYSIS If com
PEELED to choose between prohibition and r0uoa1
then the vote stands 191, ,9O9 for prohibition 70
512,O26 for repeal. "
we guess the drys will claim the modification.
lsts' and the repealers will do the same The re-
suits depend then upon the bias of the intarnrota,
Kansas is definitely for prohibition. probably the
only state IN the Union North Dakota will nrob-
aoly go wet, and from what we know of the Ia
kota vote we would say that the modification vote
and the repeal vote is really revision and dis
pensary vote, and an antiprohibition express;on
But as whole, the Literary Digest vote indi-
Gates that the people are for change bv . buge
malOnty-it IS too bad however, that the Digest
vote was arranged to give comfort to the brewery
interest rather than to clearly disclose the actual
sentiment of the people