The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-12
WOMAN'S HOME
COMP ANTON TO
FIGHT DRY LAW
Magazine Takes Definite
Stand Against Present
Prohibition System.
BIZ Times Special


NEW YORK, Sept. 12.-Presum-
ably significant of rapidly chang
ing attitude among the rank and
file Of American women on the
question of prohibition, the Wom-
ans Home Companion today an
nounced itself editorially as against
the eighteenth amendment. The
editor, Miss Gertrude B. Lane, said
in making the announcement:
so far as 1 know, the Wom-
ans Home Comanion is the first
of the important women'o maya
zines to take a definite stand against
the eighteenth amendment. We
never before have referred TO the
subject editorially. We were con-
WINGED from the beginning that the
eighteenth amendment was piece
Of unwise legislation.
But as long as a majority Of our
readers, including the official MEM
bership of the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs, continued to favor the
amendment, we refrained from eX-
pressing any opinion editorially.
The change in public opinion
among American women has been
so obvious in the last few months
as to warrant an outspoken edito-
rial statement on our part.
Fight to Continue
THE prohibition fight is not over.
Adoption of the repeal plank by the
Democrats and of a resubmission
plank by the Republicans is clear
forecast of the coming change, but
the fighting just has begun. In The
primary contests this fall for NOM
nations to congress, and in the
legislatures meeting early next year,
the most persistent issue Of our
generation will be to the fore.
Very likely it will stay there for
at least three years, and possibly
five or more. To a candid observer,
it appears unlikely that a final de-
cision will be reached any sooner.
1t is great pity that this can
not be settled promptly Many
other matters need the attention of
our legislators and cur public. I'm
employment, economic recovery, dis
armament, war debts and many
other questions of vital Importance
would have been dealt with more
intelligently, with the aid of a more
informed public opinion, if this
quarrel about the liquor question
had not so long been creating irri-
tation and confusion.
Cites Crime Sweep
1T is not fair to make the COM
mon accusation that a great section
of our people care more about drink
than about food. The majority of
-prohibitionistS today are think
ing not of their own thirst, but of
the fundamental loss to the nation,
q the increase in crime. and the vi
cious effects of bootleg liquor and
the speakeasy upon the younger
generation, all of which they at
tribute to the prohibition law.
They are thinking also of the
broad principle of personal liberty
which they believe to be more pre-
cious than any special reform.
The labels wet and dry are not
accurate as defining the divisions of
public opinion. The vets now in
clude great numbers who will
not tolerate the return of the
saloon, who sincerely believe that a
different system is essential before
we can have temperance.
1T is true, probably, that as a
result of the experience of the last
twelve years there is more power
full sentiment than ever before for
genuine temperance - temperance,
not prohibition. Under a law i'm
possible to enforce. we have seen too
wildly the growth of intemper-