The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-06-23

It or not OtnerWlSe CreUlteQ III t111o
newspaper and also the local news OF
spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights OF republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
The Death Knell Sounds
When Iowa swung into the prolaibi-
ton repeal column by an overwhelm-
ing majority Tuesday the death knell
of prohibition was sounded loudly and
clearly.
Not that Iowa Yields more influence
than other states but simply because
its voice is, in peculiar way, the
voice Of agricultural America. If re-
peal were repugnant to the farmers
of Iowa it would have been defeated.
But such was not the case. Iowas
farmers, In common with the rest OF
the nation, have come to regard pro-
hibition as a tragic mistake. Other
farm states may be expected to fol-
low.
Despite the optimism Of Jouett
shouse, leader Of the wet forces, 1t is
possible that q few states will refuse
to support the repeal movement. but
that the dry forces can muster Is
seems very improbable. That Is the
number needed to forestall adoption
of the repeal amendment. Expressions
by dry leaders after the vote In Iowa
would indicate that they have just
about given up hope.
They should do so and without de-
lay, for butting their heads against
the solid wall Of American public
opinion can avail them nothing. Fur
thermore, America Is going to need
their services in the next trying few
years.
We are going to need someone to
organize public opinion against the
evils Of liquor which are almost Ger
tain to follow this swing away from
prohibition.
Grant the oft-heard contention
that prohibitions chief advocates
have been imbued by a rabid fanatic
ism, that the effects Of the mobile ex-
pertinent" have been unwholesome
and not in the interest OF sound pub
lie policy. There still remains work to
be done by the forces which have
labored in good faith for a reduction
In the admitted evils Of alcoholic
liquors.
For anyone to contend that the
nation favors the unbridled use OF
alcoholic beverages is to miss the
point Of the present phenomenon.
Americans, by and large. approve OF
sobriety and wish to promote it in
the most feasible fashion. Prohibi-
ton has signally failed to do so. We
now must turn to some other meth
Cd. That Is the reason for this
change in sentiment.
When prohibition vanishes we shall
have the free and untrammeled flow
Of liquor again, untrammeled, that Is,
except for the effective curbs Of So
cial custom which may be set up
against it.
With liquor back in ordinary chan
nels, we shall need an intensified
drive Of education to acquaint young
and old alike with the evils of over
indulgence. We should strive might
lily to return to that era before pro-
.hibition when 1t was not considered
an achievement to serve drinks at
every social function.
The majority of the American peo-
pie regard liquor as a menace. Their
swing away from prohibition rep
resents change in their ideas as
to how best to deal with it. That Is all.
Many who have been and still are
drys have come to recognize this fact.
They are concentrating now on how
best to improve conditions. The first
step Is to get rid Of prohibition.
A comment by a Bismarck minister.
made recently during a private dis
cussion Of the subject, illustrates the
point.
This man would require that all
places which sell alcoholic beverages
be clearly labelled saloons and set
apart from the rest OF the business
community Is SHARPLY As possible. He
then would launch q definite cam.
paign to induce people not to patron
ize them. He Is willing to try the
system Of bringing out into the open
an evil which everyone knows exists
now in secret. He IS willing to SUBJ
stitute campaign for the develop
ment Of self-control for one of legal
control.
Those who favor repeal of the pro.
hibition amendment should throw
themselves into this effort whole.
heartedly. It IS good citizenship and
good business for them to do so. They
must join In seeing to it that the
profit motive IS definitely soft-pedal.
ed under the new system lest we agar
see the admitted evils Of the ole
saloon days.
Prohibition has definitely failec