Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-16
BY r. SCOTT MCBRIDE.

BY r. SCOTT MCBRIDE,
General Superintendent. Anti-saloon
League. 4sss7ss
I have reached the conclusion that
prohibition will be back within the
next 10 years after a survey within
II States during the last IA months,
and a 17,000-mile automobile tour
through rs States with ITO meetings
within the last four months. The
following are the reasons:
l. Because repeal has proven the
worst failure in a century Of dealing
with the liquor problem. No State
is satisfied with repeal. No State
condition is improved by it.
2. Because every method OF regula-
ton or control has collapsed and
there Is a decided increase in drink
ing and drunkenness. Automobile
accidents and other casualties. are
mounting. During the first full year
under repeal there have been $4,000
deaths and 100000 injuries by auto
mobile accidents. Repeal has shown
that the only way to deal with liquor
is to prohibit it.
Saloon Has Come Back.
8. Because the saloon is back. The
saloon made the biggest contribution
toward bringing about prohibition and
1t has started the country back to 1t.
LIQUOR got back on false promises, the
chief of which was that there would
be no saloons. One Governor recently
said, Conditions are worse than I
have ever known them in my State. "
Another said, 1T seems as if the liquor
people should have learned something
during the years Of prohibition, but
instead it seems they have learned
nothing. They are now doing just
what brought prohibition in the be-
ginning"
4. The bootlegger has stayed. He
Is prospecting undated. He is smoke
screened by the legaliEed traffic. He
gets his liquor cheaper and easier
and carries on his illegal program
safer. He is now making easy money
and making it easier than ever. No
bootlegger has been driven out by re-
peal.
S. The cocktail hour, along with
other social drinking customs, are
proving to be a greater menace to
women and children than the old
time bar room ever was to men and
boys.
Advertisements Resented.
6. The colossal campaign of alco-
hol beverage advertisement has Gre
ated a resentment on the part Of the
public against the whole liquor pro-
gram. 1t indicates liquor as insincere
in the contention that they wish legal
liquor to satisfy the demand OF the
public for drink.
7. Revenue returns disappoint. Pro-
hibition was repealed because OF the
claims and clamor for revenue.
Revenue returns will not pay relief
funds spent for liquor and the public
cost of caring for repeal drinking
results. If the Government were COM
PEELED to pay for the loss of life and
property caused by legalized repeal
intoxication, it would go bankrupt.
8. Liquor domination in State Legis-
latures is again arousing the people
These liquor tactics contributed great
ly in bringing about prohibition. They
will do it quickly again.
Churches Aroused.
9. The churches and other welfare
rroups are now aroused to the fact
that they have been betrayed by
political coercion and liquor propa-
ganda. Reaction has set in. Six
states have by direct vote or legislative
enactment declared against liquor,
and hundreds Of units have outlawed
the traffic within the year.
10. Liquor is now clearly on the
defensive. Quoting Lincoln, Lincoln
has its defenders, but no defense"
President Roosevelt promised no sa-
looms. He freely and repeatedly de-
clared if his policies proved mistaken
ones he would be in the forefront
advocating a change. Exhibit A of
failure is now repeal. Repeal has
failed.