Evening star., 1934-01-26
LIQUOR Traffic Control.

The Commissioners have been notably
successful in selecting the Dlstrlcts
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. It's
members individually are OF a hlgh
type of good citizenship, anxious TO
promote the welfare and to preserve
the deserved good name of their nome
city, and so thoroughly identified with
the Capital community as to respond
wholesomely to sound local sentiment.
uninfluenced by politics or by the liquor
interests, backed by the President ana
the Commissioners, and with the CO.
operation of the community In ooeol-
ence to a law purposely made compare
lively easy to obey, the board Will ap-
proach with reasonable confidence us
task of strict enforcement of the law
In the community interest.
Public expectation is strong that with
this backing and with the absolutely
essential cooperation of the community
the board and the Commissioners Will,
~ pledged, bar the saloon either In
1ts old form or in some modern guise,
will foster real temperance and sobriety
and will reduce to a minimum the evils
and dangers threatening the home, the
family, and especially perhaps the
growing youth, which have heretofore
seemed inseparable from the hard liquor
traffic, whether prohibited or regulated
by law.
In respect to liquor traffic control
In the States and by the States the
President can only suggest and urge.
In the District, under exclusive ma
tional control, he can, with Congress
cooperating, command. A board OF
alcoholic beverage control, appointed by
Commissioners who are appointed by the
President to serve in the Federal dis
trict, directly represents the President
and becomes his agent to carry out IN
letter and in spirit his announced
policy concerning post-repeal liquor
control. His policy has been clearly
and repeatedly stated and with ever-ln-
creasing emphasis. In accepting the
presidential nomination in July, 1882,
he said: I'VE must rightly and morally
prevent the return of the saloon
In August, 1882, he quoted with
hearty approval the provision of the
Democratic platform which reads: I'VE
urge the enactment of such measures
hy tho several States as will actually
promote Temperance, effectually prevent
q return Of the saloon" On December
9, 1888, in announcing the repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment, he said:
II ask especially that no State shall,
BY law or otherwise, authorize the re-
turn of the saloon, either in Its old
ask the wholehearted cooperation OF
all our citizens to the end that this
return of individual freedom shall not
be accompanied by the repugnant con-
ditions that obtained prior to the
eighteenth amendment" Fail
ure to do this honestly and courageously
will be living reproach to us all"
- THE policy Of the Government
Will De 10 see W IL Cildt WIG SoSAHA oAA>A
political evils that have existed IN the
pre-prohibition era shall not be revived
nor permitted again to exist"
II trust in the good sense OF the
American people that they will not
bring upon themselves the curse OF
excessive use of intoxicating liquors to
the detriment of health, morals and
social integrity"
As late as the thirtieth of last month,
he said: IT have great confidence that
our party leaders will respect
pledges made to the electorate and will
provide legislation that will make i'm
possible the return of the open saloon
and all its attendant evils"
The words of the President are words
Of sincerity and honest conviction. Our
Board of Commissioners and our Board
of Alcoholic Beverage Control are ad-
mirably constituted to meet squarely
their direct and peculiar responsibility
to the President and their moral obli-
cation to the homes, the families, the
schools. the churches and to the people
In general Of the unrepresented District.
President Roosevelt will supervise