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Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1928, Page 2

DF.sriTK the good intentions of those advocating tlie maintenance of prohibition in the United States, incidents are cropping up continually which go to .show that the whole movement is men acini on all sides by very serious evils—quite apart from the cost of endeavouring so ineffectually to enforce national prohibition—which is not being done The subject has invaded the Presidential contest, and is going to lie quite a factor in that disturbing upheaval Senator Borah lias often been described as the “stormy petrel of American politics.” and he never laid claim to the title more effectively, says an exchange, than when he decided to intake the liquor question a test for Presidential candidates. I lie difficulty of making up one’s mind alKi.it the relative merits of the various claimants is almost insuperable, and flic problem may seem to lie simplified by asking everv one of their, in succession whether lie is “wet” or “dry.” Rut what may be gained in that way is certainly lost in others, not simply' through the confusion of public issues, hut through the hitler and vindictive spirit that the liquor question always introduces Into public life One particularly painful feature of this “nation wide” struggle was brought out the other day in the House of Representatives by ohc. Dr Sii'ovieh. He is a Democrat and member fob New York ('itv and being also a doctor, lie spoke with some authority when lie denounced the “use of poison as a denaturant’’ in industria’ alcohol. “through drinking liquor which is loaded with poison prescribed by |lie Government.” It is a shocking iml id nielli. and ii shows how completely the ordinary standards ol social Mill public conduct have been degraded or ignored by those participating in this distracting quarrel. It is not so very long ago. I hat a cable message from Washington stated that Treasury statistics showed the enforceinent of prohibition had cost nearly 300 lives Some 54 agents were killed oil duty and six eoastgtiardsmen were slain and 100 other members of the “dry navy’ wen' lost. In the name uf selfilofenco 125 liquor runners were killed by Government agents. There is no record of the number injured, hut the total is believed to run into several thousand. And all the time, unfortunately, prohibition docs no! prohibit, Money can purchase good and bad liquor at all times and in all places according to the experience of visitors (o Llie States.