STATE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 5

STATE CONTROL

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l road your admirable report of Mr. Jamos Simpson's talk on "State Control" in this morning's paper. I have sympathy with, him in his .incorporating Prohibition as part of his creed, for Dr. Anson has asked in your own columns: "Is it right to deprive a very largo part of the nation of what is a legitimate and harmless luxury, because a few are so depraved that they cannot use it in moderation?" And when people cannot use any commodity in moderation, lot it bo meat, drink, or religion, then they should, eschew, all. I notice in tho course of his speech' that he made some statements which wore not true to fact. For instance, ho stated that licensing was instituted in 1558, but that is not so. It was instituted at the suggesion of Bishop Dunstan, who lived at a much earlier period, and it was beoauso everyone had the right to make and soli beer in "Memo England," and because of this unlimited and unlicensed trade in this commodity, and becauso of the general intoxication that resulted therefrom, Ehe bishop suggested to the thon Chancellor of the Exchequer that certain persons only should have the privilege, and that they should bo respectable and well-doing. This was the genesis of (the licensing system, but much water has run under tho bridge since then,' and tho licensing system has been much improved, but still only respectable and well-doing persons and of good character can alone get licenses. Mr. Simpson says: "But for the prohibition of vodka, the Revolution in Russia never could have been organised." la making this statement Mr. Simpson is in accord with tho Hon. J. H. Clynos, also a Labour man, who is now Minister of Food in Great Britain, nnd ho .says: "Tho suppression of vodka in Russia had failed to strengthen that country either militarily or morally;'in fact, it was possible that it accounted in somo measure for the discontent that finally produced the Revolution." The London "Times! 1 Petrograd correspondent concurs that Prohibition was tho cause of the Russian Revolution, and put that unhappy country out of tho war. Prohibition of vodka is attributed by him to Raspntinism that was not without German prompting. Others go further and assert that Gorman intrigue and propaganda were entirely responsible for the prohibition of vodka, and that tho Germans believed that tho ukaso of tho Tsar inspired by them .would bring about a revolution and destroy. Russia as one' of the British Allies. Prohibition, therefore, in Russia not only destroyed'£93,ooo,ooo of revenue, but it put an end to Tsar's life, and an end to Russia as amilitary country in tho war. _ It was for this reason that Prohibition could not get a footing in Great Britain. It was for this reason that Lloyd Georgo bccamo convortod to State purcliaso and State control, and it is_a remarkablo fact that tho Prohibitionists in Great Britain (Mr. James Simpson helping them) were, with tho liquor trade, tho chief opponents of State purchase. Many loading Prohibitionists, 'such as Sir Joseph Rickett, JM.P., Kir Thomas AVhiitakor, M.P. ; both vice-presidents of tho United Kingdom Alliance, with the whole of tho members of the Temperance Legislation League, including Mr. Lloyd George himself, were favourable to States purchase. Lloyd George himself said: "Stato purchase is tho host way to progress and temperance." and ho himself was onco a rabid Prohibitionist. Allow me, in conclusion, to refer again to Dr. Anson's admirable lottor for the purposo of using it to combat Mr. Simpson's statement that tho "medical men have declared total prohibition for even medicinal purposes." Dr. Anson says: "It is cortainly false to assert that a moderate use of light wine or light beor is in any way detrimental to the user or to others." A lnrgo majority of medical men bear thiß out."—l am, etc., E. KENNEDY.