Evening star., 1933-06-14
End of Prohibition Forecast
On Basis of Present Results

Predictions of anti-prohibition sue
cess are made following the wet victory
in Indiana, which has been placed
among the ultra-dry States. Votes
recorded in favor of taking liquor out
Of the Constitution are viewed as evil
dence of an amazing change of senti-
ment, and the more optimistic of the
vets see the possibility of achievement
of repeal before the end of the year.
If the aggregate vote in the States
that have taken action truly reflects
national sentiment, the battle can be
counted as won," says the Indianapolis
News, while the Minneapolis Tribune,
emphasizing the reaction against pro-
hibition," holds that sit is little wonder
that some of the repealists find evidence
that revolt accumulates." The Omaha
World Herald feels that "the march to-
ward repeal has astonished even those
who have long been convinced that the
American people have rejected prohtbi-
ton as a means of temperance In
drinking" That paper adds that ''if the
issue were decided by popular majority,
it would long since have been con-
ceded to the anti-drys."
Repeal rolls merrily on" according
to the Scranton Times, while the
Birmingham Age-Herald observes "a
lCW SCIlSC VI tdlQCS Wttl1 1CoPSN1 w PA0"
hibition," as q result of which ''its doom
has been sounded" That paper asks:
why should Alabama fail to do what
Indiana has done?" It voices the opin-
ion that in the past "the drys have been
running Indiana with only IS per cent
of the vote" The Newark Evening News
reports that "the unbroken march OF
dry-law repeal sentiment at the polls
is hailed by the wet leadership as lend
ing great strength to the hope that 1888
will see the end of the eighteenth
amendment" and offers the judgment
that Indiana, upon which the drys
banked heavily, boosted that hope
enormously" The New York Times
feels that results "have encouraged hope
Of early repeal"
The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
observes "a very considerable percent
age of voters, normally considered to
be dry, and individually dry at the
present time, who are convinced that
the times are demanding repeal, that
such a step Is inevitable, and because OF
that conviction they are only watching
the parade" Belief that the Nation Is
sweeping on to repeal" Is voiced by the
Lima (Ohio) News, while the New Or
leans Times-Picayune. observing that
the reversal of public opinion Is more
sweeping on the strength of the returns
thus far than many -prohibitioni
themselves anticipated" adds the COM
ment: "A continuance of repeal VIC
tories in the States to vote during the
next few months will strengthen the
popular demand for action by the COM
which are being held back.
Not only so. but President Roosevelt's
of early repeal, with
his virtual promise that considerable
part of the emergency taxation can be
remitted if replaced by revenues from
liquor taxation, constitute another po-
tent argument for early repeal"
IF all the believer in Federal pro-
hibition can do is to prolong the dis
orders OF our present condition, II ne
can only waste revenues that would be
can only defeat a stimulus to business
at a time when millions are unem-
ployed. obstruction Is merely destruc-
tion-impolitic, anti-social and inhu-
mane," advises the Forth Wort Star
Telegram, and the Providence Journal
holds that ''the folly of attempting to
retain prohibition in the face of such a
situation as is shown by the wet vote
Is apparent" The Morgantown Do
minion-New believes, further that
"the State which votes against repeal
a position to which little
to be envied attaches"
The Roanoke World-News analyses |
the sentiment shown: THE ten States |
which have voted for repeal of the
amendment have a total |
population of 36,522 1888, or approxi- |
mately 80 per cent of the population of |
the Nation. States in which elections |
viii be held In June and July have /
about 25.0o0.00o people. Within sixty