Evening star., 1933-10-01
BY DEETS PICKETT.

BY DEETS PICKETT.
Research Secretary. Board of Temperance,
Methodist Episcopal Church.
If and when prohibition is repealed.
the problem of control of the legalized
LIQUOR traffic will be two-fold in char
acter First. let me say that in my
opinion the vets must assume RESPONSE
bility. They have avoided laying before
the American people comprehensive and
detailed plans which might be subjected
to devastating criticism. Those who
beliere prohibition is the only ultimate
solution of the problems will be making
a serious mistake if they refuse to par
ticipate in discussions or make sugges-
tions which will relieve the community
from some of the evils which might
otherwise attend the traffic. But, IN
doiny SO they must concede nothing as
to the principle involved.
The Federal Government will be faced
with a titanic task in curbing the trail
fic in liquors between dry and wet terri
tory. Congress and the political parties
are under the most sacred promise and
obligation in this regard. Any difficult
ties experienced by State in the 60
ministration of its own policy, becauSc
OF an illegal interstate commerce in
liquor, will be living reprOach to Fed
eral authorities. The Government has
been in the process of diveSting itself
OF various functions. but this one Is
ccnstitutionally assigned to Washington.
II it cannot be done, then the COM
pelling argument for prohibition will
loom largely in the face of every citizen.
TIE contention of the dryS that Nation
vide prohibition is essential because the
trade insists in respecting no bound
vic lou t,,c ol, ntya,,
stances be fully indicated. How State
boundaries are to be protected I do not
know. With good roads everywhere
and thousands of automobiles crossing
State lines hourly the task would seem
to demand the very closest supervision
of all production, with a close check
oy Government agents upon every trans
fer of liquors. This will call for CEN
tralization on the part of the trade, and
incorruptibility on the part of the serv-
ants Of the Government.
Agents Should Be Dry.
The men engaged in this service
should be without exception men who
by training, conviction. prejudice" if
you please. are opposed to alcoholic
liquors. 1t has never seemed to me there
has been any justification whatever for
placing men hostile to prohibition in
the service dedicated to its enforce
ment. There have been plenty of other
openings in the Government where
mans prejudice against the prohibition
law would not affect in any way his USE
fulness. Some politicians have insisted
upon filling the prohibition service with
such people and it has been utterly dis
astrous in its results.
But, even though the Federal duty
Will be no less if constitutional prohi-
bltion is repealed, the duty of the State
VIII be much greater. The States have
seemingly not been disposed to bestir
themselves to assume the new duties
anG we are facing a situation in conse-
Guence which must be alarming both
to vets and drys. so full is it of menace
III these times of social confusion. We
near many vague suggestions about
State control" but no disinterested re-
port has as yet been made of its sue
cess or lack of success where tried, al
though it may be forthcoming Beyond
controversy, the dispensary system was
not successful in South Carolina. While
a Gegree CT success is claimed in Sweden
and various provinces of Canada. it has.
IN the Dominion of Canado. greatly
increased the number of consumers of
alcoholic liquors. There is no proof
''tAs'e-'NA tAAol ~ ltIitS W ltSSSIl l1e
consumption of whisky and ether
strong drinks Unless the Government
takes over bodily the manufacture as
well as distribution. the system brings
governmental officials into regrettably
close contact with an anti-social trade
contract involving vast expenditures
If in any American State. the liquor
business is taken over in its entirety
we will see the quick development of
all almost indestructible political ma
chine. incidentally, those who speak
of the Swedish system are seldom in
formed as to the active hostility mani
tested by the Swedish government to
the whole great business involved. even
including the financing of temperance
lectures.
Population a Factor.
There is an aspect of this matter
which is of greatest importance. Is
there any reason to believe that systems
in the various States, similar to the
systems of Canada or Sweden would
operate even so we'll as they do abroad?
There is great difference in the pop
ulatlon of our northern neighbor.