The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-02-27
ALTERNATIVES TO LIQUOR CHAOS

| Submission of the Blaine resolution to the
/ American states for ratification implies for them
the expression of free choice. 1t should mean
the exercise of the soundest discretion of their
people as to whether they shall approve Or disap-
prove not merely prohibition repeal but repeal IN
the form presented.
This decision may naturally be governed not only
by the character of the two alternatives offered
but also by the character of other alternatives
which congress might offer in the nature of liquor
control if # were more concerned with a construc-
tive workng-out of the situation Quite apart from
the virtues or faults of prohibition, the Blaine
method of repeal must be utterly unacceptable to
thousands of sincere vets as we'll as drys, because
it does not afford any adequate safeguards or en-
body any of the several plans which might be de-
vised to place reasonable restraints the promo
ton of liquor sales.
1t should not be thought that because congress
has adopted formula the states must take 1t Of
leave it and so make end of the matter. If the
Blaine resolution fails of ratification, the critics
of prohibition may be depended upon to submit 10
the people more temperate, more constructive
and more protected plan, program more worthy
TO he the outcome of decades OF experiment by an
enlightened people in the suppression Of lntoXl-
cants.
Several such programs are available, brought
forward by antagonists of prohibition. toremost
among these is the plan of Judge Henry Henry W.
Anderson of Virginia advanced in the Wlckersham
report 1t proposes quas-gOvernmental authority,
that is a specially chartered corporation which
would have a monopoly of liquor manufacture ana
nav limited dividends to its stockholders while op
Grating under publicly appointed regulatory COM
mission. This organization would distribute IT'S
nroduct TO similar state agencies in states that de-
sired to permit the dispensing of intoxcants under
state regulations as to quantities. prices and places
of sale.
This plan need not be frozen into the Constitu-
tion. hut in order to make its adoption possible
there would have to be reserved to congress the
constitutional power to regulate at its discretion
the LIQUOR traffic in its national aspects-an au-
+boritv which the Blaine resolution would throw
away in its hurry to return the problem to the
states.
The Anderson plan is based of course, on the
Bratt SYSTEM which has been in effect for some
wears in Sweden with results that though not IDEAL
indicate at least the advantages Of eliminating the
private profit element from the sale Of spirits FUR
Their, the experience in Quebec, which has the
shows the continuing pressure of advertising anu
other sales promotion which persists in pushing IN
toxicants upon young and old where even regu-
lated private trade is permitted.
Ontario has its provision for A per cent oeer'
sold anywhere-which illustrates chiefly that when
this is permitted the right to sell heavier drinks
will be demanded. Saskatchewan and some other
provinces limit liquor sales to governmental stores
or forbid the sale of intoxicants for consumption
on the premises. This gives hint of how, grant
inc the difficulties of defining saloon, the Amerl-
can congress might legislate against the worst
abuses associated with the saloon if sufficient con-
stitutional authority retained.
Altogether, whether one be a prohibtionlst or
not there is good reason to oppose ratification OF
the Blaine resolution in the hope that congress
may be impelled to offer substitute for the lStn
Amendment which may be considered at least g
partial solution of the liquor problem rather than
an evasion of it.-Christian Science Monl.Jr