AN INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1928, Page 7

AN INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE

TWO EAIPLOYKUS OK LABOUR ON .RKO.HIB.ITIOX.

!'I)TH KOKAI ICKIjY FAVOURABLE

Louisville, Kentucky, loth Alav, 1928

Dear .Mr Kaskob, From your stateincnst to tlio New York ‘‘Times” of April 23rd, you have evidently given tliis matter of prohibition a groat deal ol thought. Being an executive and an employer of labour, and having boon an advocate. like yourself, of prohibition for many years, I must admit that the opposition of so many reputable leaders of public opinion in America against prohibition has given me no little concern. I am truly interested in learning what you have in mind as a substitute for prohibition. Yours very truly,

(Signed) P. H. CALLAGHAN

Note.—Mr. Callatrhan is President of the Louisville Varnish Co. of Kentucky. Air John .). Kaskob is President of General Alotors Corporation, and a Director in a number of other Corporations which in the aggregate employ over 3CO,(K)f) workmen. Mr Kaskob has a family of 12 children ranging from 5 to 12 years of age, and what lie says in his reply to Air Callaghan is that the thing that gives him the greatest concern is that both his employees and his children are developing “a thorough lack of respect for our laws and institutions, and that there seems to he a growing feeling that nothing is wrong in life except getting caught.”

Further, in the course of his reply to Air Callaghan lie says this:—“A large number of people feel that a majority in this country have no more right to curtail their freedom with respect to drinking beer, wines or even spirits than they have to deny free religious worship. These people feel they do no wrong in the eyes of Cod when they buy and consume, beer, wines and liquors in spite of the law

“trim menace of prohibitory laws is the s])irit, of intolerance underlying their adoption and this is hound to result in rebellion. “My whole desire and effort is to try to bring my IVllow-cifizens back into the atmosphere that gave birth to our Constitution—an atmosphere of brotherly love which spoils tolerance and a keen respect for our■••clvcs, for each other, for our laws, institutions, and. above all, respect for our Cod, our liberty and our freedom.

“No one can survey or study tlio results of the Eighteenth, Amendment and I In l Volstead Law during the past nine years without coming to the conclusion that their administration has been a complete failure. “I thoroughly resent the charge bv over-zealous prohibitionists that those of us engaged in trying to bring about the repeal or amendment of tlio Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Law are in any way lawbreakers to show any lack of respect for our great Constitution. On the contrary, we are engaged in a noble effort to restore to our people a feeling of independence and liberty and the right to the pursuit of happiness so earnestly sought, prayed for, and finally secured after the great revolutionary war.

“Let us not have another revolution or rebellion, which is certain to overtake us unless we learn how to build our laws on the foundation of honesty instead of intolerance, and also let us appreciate the fact that the might of the majority or an organised. is not necessarily right. . . . “A Tv judgment is that both parties will dodge this whole liquor question by inserting some innocuous plank in their respective platforms at the June conventions.

“Sincerely yours.

“(Signed) JOHN J J. KASKOB.”

Both political parties dodged the whole question. The majority in each camp realised, as does Air Kaskob, that prohibition has demoralised the social and public life of America, and that it has proved a costly experiment fraught with evil. A decisive majority for Continuance is required to remove this menace from New Zealand. 4