Evening star., 1933-10-03


What?"
BY RUFUS S. LUSK,
For Two Years National legislative Ofncer
Of the Crusaders.
If there were no profit in the sale
Of narcotics the Illicit drug trafiic would
die tomorrow. To a considerable ex-
tent the same is true Of the liquor
traffic Remove the profit, or as much
of it as possible, and most Of the evil
in the traffic will be removed at the
same time.
There are signs of little change in
the attitude of the liquor interests IN
the conduct Of their business. It's true
that numberleSS statements have been
issued and advertisements published that
might indicate to the average man that
they have had a change of heart, but
all this Is just propaganda. Before
prohibition they were in the business
to make money. They are in it and
will be in it. after repeal for exactly
the same reasons-to make money, as
much money as possible. Despite all
the sugar-coated statements Of public
relations counsel to the effect that busi-
ness exists for service, the fact is that
all business always has and always will
exist for just one reason-to make
profit. The liquor business IS no ex-
ception to this rule. Since 1t exists to
make profit, obviously the larger the
business the greater the profit. From
this it follows that the liquor industry
will endeavor to extend its business, and
will! therefore endeavor to increase
drinking.
Lust for Profit Evident.
The same means will be used to in
crease the consumption of liquor that
are used to increase the consumption OF
any other product. BY clever adver-
tlsing and the expenditure of millions
of dollars the cigarette people have
enormously expanded their business.
Modern propaganda, plus the cash and
the nerve that always go with the
liquor trade, may make it emulate
the cigarette manufacturers, SO as to
convert young boys and girls into steady
drinkers.
The lust for profits is already evil
dent. Every day advertisements appear
in the New York papers telling of val
liable and profitable liquor franchises
that are available. The importation OF
numerous brands of whiskies, wines,
brandies, ETC., has been arranged for
by various individuals and companies
who seek to make a profit out Of the
sale of these intoxicants.
A liquor system has but one
object-the promotion of temperance.
What systems have proved to be the
most successful among people who, like
ourselves, are accustomed to drinking
hard liquor? They are the Bratt sys-
tenn in Sweden and the Cvrlisle expert
ment in England. The former, which
carries the elimination Of private profit
to the limit. has, in the course Of 20
years, changed one of the hardest
drinking nations in the world to one
of the most sober. Before the intro
duction of this system, a Swede, like
bear. practically went into Information
for six months each Winter, and sub
sisted largely during that period on
brannvin, q potent liquor which Is al
most pure alcohol and made from po-
tatoes.
Use Of Liquor Discouraged.
During the war tens Of thousands OF
munitions workers were employed IN
newly established factories at Carlisle,
England. Most of the men were single
and the conditions that developed as
the result Of excessive drinking were
appalling. The production OF munitions
was threatened by the drunkenness OF
the workers The British government
stepped in and bought up all the brew
cries and public houses in the district:
The public houses were then operated
not to make profit, but to provide
wholesome drinking places for the
workers. The purchase Of food was
encouraged and the use Of hard liquor
discouraged. As a result. drunkenness
was largely wiped out. Eliminating the
profit in the liquor traffic produced So
briefly.
Regulations, other than the elimina-
ton of private profit for liquor control,
are almost details. Those in the bus1-
ness, If it pays, will find means to get
around practically every regulation
which has for its object the promotion
of moderate drinking. To cite an ex-
ample: The beer act Of the District
Of Columbia provided that all drinking
must be done at tables. This was put
in because experience proved that
when men sit down to drink they are
less apt to drink to excess. OF course.
one can get drunk while sitting down
as we'll as standing up; the Romans
managed pretty well while lying down.
But it is nevertheless fact that per
pendicular drinking encourages both
treating and lack of moderation.
Immediately the law went into effect.