The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-12

Evanston, I'll, Dec, ia-Three mas for llquor powers,-beer, wine and Whlskey = are operating as q new "nxis1 Co promote their ideology of alcohol and Co wage total war against the afew remaining restric- tons on sale of liquor to men, wo- men, and young people"
 This was the conclusion reached here today by National Woman's Christian Temperance union in its eighth annual "Scoresheet of Re. peal" This December marks the eighth anniversary of the end Of prohibition and the start of repeal.
 Listing four developments of lo4i s,unfavorable to national temper Mnce" and grouping other flavor able" developments under @ fifth heading, the WCTU statement also gave statistical figures on the "cost to the nation of It's eight year spree"
 Four Developments
 The statement:
 '"There have been four major de- veiopments during io4i unfavorable to national temperap s, and well- being. The most threatening of these is that wine, whiskey and beer interests seemingly have reached on understanding to over- look their basic conflict for the American consumers liquor dollar and to follow the same party line in trying to stop the growing national trend toward stronger regulation and control of liquor. It Is worthy os note here that Repeal Associates and other groups active in selling relegallsatIon of liquor to the m. ton prior to 1888 have returned to tho temperance fight and that units are being organized in key spots throughout the nation with the eX- press purpose of combating harm ful legislation
 "As far as Is known publicly this is not as yet a olosely-knit Axis, but it is characterized by & similarity of methods and of goals, much in the same fashion aS the European totalltarian Axis first operated as c loose collection of dictatorlal goVs eFnInents with common aims,
 Tt is actually much moro pow erful lineup than tho combine which undermined prohibition, as it now includes hundreds of thousands of persons who live on liquor payrolls, stockholders and officers of liquor groups who arc powerful in other industrial and financial channels, some of the eleverest brains in mer- chandising psychology and prolno- tion, and the fiAsSed millions of dollars represented by the traffic.
 "The comparison of the various divlalons Of the liquor traffic to an Axis is clearly justified by those with perspective, Their joint profit base is alcoholism, their method to free Themselves from oil restrictions, their goal to make millions of dol- lars by destroying others. They dee Judo with plausible-sounding and very clever propaganda, they play On l1Asic human emotions to secure new converts from the family cir. cle. They protest their innocence, while they enslaVo millions.
 The Axis Llne.Up
 'Tt iB not far-fetehod to compare beer tthe most powerful member of the Axis) to Germany, wine (the aFtlBticaily clothed deeeiver) to Italy, and hard liquor (which is tolerated n the Axis through necessity to Japan.
 ''Thls Axis also will march on to more horrible triumphs until the confused and tho nnisled form . solid wall Of opposition. Then lts downfall will Do swift and com. plete.
 "The second major unfayorabie development has been liquor's so- far-Successful fight to stay h the Army.
 "The Sheppard Bill, which would oust beer from Army camps and Navy stations and would direct mill- taFy commanders to oust oil liquor from Army camp areas, Is still on the Senate calendar. The Navy has withstood the argument that beer belongs in uniform to the extent that alcoholic beverages are not Der. mltted aboard the ships of the fln- est naval force in the world.
 Third unfavorable development b that national magazine media formerly closed to liquor have been opened to tt recently for direct ap. peals to customers among women and young people.
 Fourth is the temporary success of liquor in convincing some offl- cielSD some national writers, and some of the public that they should oppose restrictions on llquor because Of the scarecry of prohibition
 on the favorable side of this scoresheet are such important facts aS the marvellous upsurgc Of reiig- aous interest throughout the nation, With the natural subsequent increase m criticism of liquors effects; grow. ang temperance strength as indicat- do by 6 continuing high percent- age Of dry victories in local option elections and in the addition of thousalds of members and hum dreds of new Unions to w. 0. T. U. rolls; In new statements by med- ical doctors, psychiatrists, and sclen. tific researchers which point out the dangers Of alcohol as e beverage: and statements by social welfare wrokeTs and some leaders Of public opinion which decry the effects of alcohol"
 On the statistical side, the W. 0. z. U. statement announced that the nations drinkers had consumed, mN@w wWWRA~~ mva ~--