THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 7

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT

Story of the Prohibition Years “Noble Experiment,” by Sydney B. Whipple, (London: Methuen). r pHIS is the story of the “noble ex- J periment” of Prohibition in the United States of America. It makes very strange reading, for the results of that experiment have been such as the most ardent and sincere “drys” could, not have foreseen or imagined. Tragic? unexpected and most amazing results, they, or more correctly their aftermath, remain still with the country,- and the end, impossible to prophesy, lies far beyond this generation. When any other country in the world may feel inclined to consider national prohibitipn, its eyes will naturally turn to that land where the experiment was tried on such a large scale. What will it find? Tragedy, death, evil risen to power, unexampled corruption and adverse public opinion heavily balanced aginst the possible benefits claimed by the churches and upholders of the prohibition system. In no country other than America could the position have taken the particular form that it did there. The huge mixed population still “young” as a nation, the political system and the worship of the “Almighty Dollar” all contributed to push the American people into a maelstrom which Mr. Whipple strives to interpret. He acknowledges the evils of the old saloon, traces the causes that made national prohibition possible, gives a vivid picture of the United .States under the “Dry” law and finally sets forth the circumstances leading to repeal and sketches conditions as they are to-day. Mr. Whipple’s figures, which he has no doubt verified as far as possible, whether dealing with the amount of liquor consumed under prohibition or with the wealth of “bootleg kings” fire staggering/ His presentation of the psychological aspects making possible the tyranny of gangsters and gunmen, is impressive and of paramount interest.

“Noble Experiment” is unlikely to find unqualified favour in the eyes of prohibition enthusiasts, but no one who is interested, in attempting a study of the question as a whole can afford to leave this comprehensive survey unread.

iiciiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiciiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiimiuiiiiiiiiic A READING LIST “Noble Experiment,” by Sydney B. Whipple (Methven). “Eastward From Paris,” by Edouard Serriot (Gollancz). “North of Hie Never-Never,” by Patrick 11. Ritchie (Angus and Robertson). FICTION. “The Ninth of July,” by Ronald Fraser (Cape). “Earthquake in a Triangle,” by Lewis Gibbs (Dent). “Tender is the Night,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Chatto and Windus). iiniiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiinniiiiiiiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiWit