The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-01

Editor Times-While there are
many things to make us all feel en-
couraged about the present tenn
perance and prohibition situation,
there are others to make us really
"sit up and take notice"
We read and hear much today
about the modification or repeal OF
the prohibition law. 1t is hoped and
expected that the right thinking
people will find much in the follow
ing statements and facts that may
be used advantageously in combat
ing the wet propaganda with which
the daily press is flooding the coun-
try.
"Pussyfoot" Johnson tells us that
many of our daily presses have sold
to the vets and the European
breweries are flooding their money
into our country to fight our pro-
hibition laws, because they see their
doom if the United States retains
and enforces its present prohibition
laws. So we can not expect to ind
reliable information in the wet daily
newspapers.
We look back to war days and
wonder how we could have been
fooled so easily by the propaganda
put out by the war promoters. All
sorts of stories filled our daily pa
pers and then about German atrocl-
ties and a dozen other equally
groundless things to stir up suspi-
cion and hatred.
Since the war we find that the
same thing was done on the other
side of the trenches. War thrives
on lies and hate, not on truth and
good will. There is going on before
our eyes this very day the same
kind of propaganda in behalf of re-
peal or modification Of the prohlnl-
ton laws.
We are being told that one public
man after another is coming out for
modification. Some of these cases
no doubt are bona dde, for more
than one public man has yielded to
the propaganda just as in war days
One Of the most inSidiouS, not to
say vicious, phases Of the wet prop
uganda today suggests that lawless-
ness is the product of prohibition.
Hip TASKS are no more to be
charged to the prohibition law than
lynchings are to the law against
mob rule.
Drinking by young women and
girls is no more due to the law than
are other modern customs and
habits. against which no prohibition
exists. The rapidly growing cigaret
habit among young women during
the past decade can not be disposed
of by charging it to laws Or consti-
tutional amendments prohibiting
cigaret smoking.
The society cocktail habit is not
so much the product of prohibition
as it is an evidence of a perverted
idea of culture"
Prohibition did not make law
breakers. 1t only showed us when
men willing to put loyalty to their
appetites above loyalty to the Con-
stitution.
Long before we had prohibition,
the graveyards were being filed by
those who we're being poisoned by
wine, whisky and alcohol. Do not
allow yourself to be deceived with
the thought that only home brew
kills people.
Many of the vets go around
ridiculing prohibition, but as yet
have not made one valuable sug-
gestion for solving the problem.
We know our prohibition law is
being violated, so are all of our
other laws. But it would better be
blind pig, outlawed and driven
into the alley, than a roaring tiger
licensed and doing business on the
best corner Of every block.
We can not see where modif1ca-
ton would help any. for a saloon
by any other name would smell
just as bad. If all the folks who
are saying that prohibition is
failure would support the law for
one month, the success Of the ex-
pertinent would astonish the world.
We believe too many Americans