The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-05-08
Join The, Crusaders

We don't suppose that the advice of Dean Clarence w. Mendell of Yale University for college students to join the Crusaders will cause diminution in the enrolfment. It shouldn't at any rate despite the beliefs of fond fathers and mothers and their admoni- tions to sons not to touch liquor while at school. Curiously enough there seems to be an idea in most dry proponents minds that the Crusaders represent just one section of the nation. namely those who want to restore liquor to the status it occupied when there were licensed saloons. That opinion they adhere to despite anything to the contrary or repeated publication of the Crusaders platform.
 The movement is over year old now. It started in Cleveland in January. 1850. and SO popular did it become that branches can now be found in every state of the country and in almost every city of any size. Water bury recently organized branch of the Cru saders and local members are busiy engaged in enlisting membership throughout the Naugatuck valley. It is splendid organiza- tion for those who do not think that prohi- bition has solved the problem of liquor tenn perance. It is the ideal society for the young man who is willing and eager to interest him. self in problems of state It is as militant as its name suggests, but quite non partisan.
 Dean Wendell declared this week that
 The Crusaders have laid out policy which must appeal to all those who believe in the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. This is movement not for general license or for return of the saloon It represents the belief of those who are interested in making the United States country of temperate citizens. who are temperate, not because they are legally forced to be. but because they realize the im- portance. from the point of view of society as we'll as the individual. of rational and ef- fective temperance. :. l believe in the or ganization of the Crusaders because l am confident that thorough study of the prob lem is essential. and that such study by the younger element in the country will eventu- ally lead to saner situation and one which will in the end commend itself to the public at large
 At this point we digress for moment Has it ever occurred to any one that the old time temperance banners and posters are seen no longer? Remember how the saloon was pictured as a den of horrors9 We maintain and always have that the old time saloon was far better than our l93l model '.speakeasy'. That clubs (eall them what You want) exist in far greater numbers is easily proved. Why are dry leaders so blind to our present deplorable conditions, far worse than they were before 1920? We think that the exper- iment has gone far enough. It is time to try another method of procuring temperance. No nation has ever succeeded in enforcing total abolition. No one ever will. "
 To the states must be returned the rights that are theirs. It is not for Connecticut to say what Kansas will drink, nor for Kansas to dictate our laws. It is for each individual state to decide for itself on this all important topic of liquor control and sale As Colonel Julian Goldman. National Executive Commander of the Crusaders says the governor of each state should ask authority from the state legislature to appoint a special commission whose task sshAifebe to study all ths-ehief do- mestic and foreign systems of liquor regula- ton or prohibition and report as to what would be in their opinion the best form of regulation or prohibition to be established by each state. ."N3Thisi would be, of course. subsequent to, repeal of the 9th amendment which seems to, be inevitable now