AMERICA & PROHIBITION

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1922, Page 4

AMERICA & PROHIBITION

HOW TILE STATUTE HAS FAILED It is very interesting in connectii u with the Congressional Elections to note the general dispositons of t* v Americans to the prohibition question. In this sphere of political thought, np I'areiitly, there is a revulsion of fee*' ing agiiyu.the nation-wide prohibitorylaw. Wlujrcver tlie issue has been permitted to enter the arena of practical polities the opponents of the law seem to have scored a victory. It i* difficult to avoid the impression, nl'te. a steady course of reading in American publications, “wet”, ami “dry” that*. : very considerable- proportion ol t!.. population resents a law imposed by tin immoral rich to correct the morals o the immoral poor. Tlie legislative attempt,, h.v ton stitutional amendment, to make every “good American” a prohibitionist by statute , lias failed, primarily because the great mass of the people' who work for wages have noted that the employing class, and the (lass of rich idlers Which obtains its wealth from industry. are not prepared to sacrifice their appetite for alcohol -even in the interests of the. Constitution. Prohibition . ill America, has brought in its train ..a .series ,pf social problems wnich arc peculiar to that nation. I’heir repercussion upon politics is evidently already formidable,"