The Washington times., 1931-01-20
58.75 Per Cent Turnover

measures necessary to the en-
fOrcement of the prohibition of
liquor importation is the crea-
ton of competent border
patrol which shall unite in one
efficient force the men of the
four different services above
mentioned. Difficult as is the
task, it does not seem to be be-
yOnd accomplishment, although
some legislative aid may he
necessary to perfect such an or.
ganiZatiOn.
"There is a mass of infOrma-
ton before us as to a general
prevalence of drinking in homes,
in clubs and in hotels; of drink
ing parties given and attended
by persons of high standing and
reSpectability; of drinking by
tourists at winter and summer
resorts; and of drinking in cOh-
nectiOn with public dinners and
at conventions. This is true
likewise with respect to drink
ing by women and drinking by
youth, as to which also there is
a great mass of evidence. In
weighing this evidence much al
lowance must be made for The
effect of new standards of indie
pendence and individual self
assertion, changed ideas as to
conduct generally, and the
greater emphasis on freedom
and the quest for excitement
since the war.
See Disregard for Law
CAS- to drinking among youth,
the evidence is conflicting.
Votes in colleges show an atti-
tude of hostility to or con-
tempt for the law on the part
of those who are not unlikely
to be leaders in the next
generation. 1t is safe to say
that a significant change has
taken place in the social atti-
tude toward drinking. This
may be seen in the views and
conduct of social leaders, bust
ness and professional men in
the average community. 1t
may be seen in the tolerance
of conduct at social gatherings
which would not have been
possible a generation ago. 1t
is reflected in a different way
of regarding drunken youth,
in a change in the class of
excessive drinkers, and in the
increased use of distilled liquor
in places and connections
where formerly it was banned.
1t is evident that, taking the
country as a whole, people Of
wealth, business men and pro-
feSSiOnal men, and their
families, and, perhaps, the
higher paid working men and
their families, are drinking in
large numbers in quite frank
disregard of the declared policy
of the national prohibition act.
Drinking Increases
"The Census Bureau figures
for the year 1929 indicate a de-
cline in the rate of deaths from
alcoholism, and the figures on
all the points referred to are
still substantially below the pre-
prohibition figures. Upon the
whole, however, they indicate
that after a brief period in the
first year of the amendment
there has. been steady increase
in drinking.
"TO the serious effects Of this
attitude of disregard of the de-
clared policy of the national pro-
hibitiOn act must be added the
bad effect on children and en-
plOyes of what they see con-
stantIy in the conduct of other
wise law abiding persons. Such
things and the effect on youth
of the making of liquor in
homes in disregard of the pol
icy, if not of the express prOvi-
sions of the law, the effect on
the families of workers of sell
ing in homes, which obtains in
many localities, and the effect
on working people of the con-
spicuOus newly acquired wealth
of their neighbOrs who have en-
gagged in bOOtlegging, are dis
quieting. This widespread and
scarcely or not at all concealed
contempt for the policy of the
national prohibition act, and the
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