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Note and Comment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 10.

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Note and Comment

A Convincing Admission

THE United States Brewers’ Association issued, on January 27, an official statement to the members of the organization, which is the strongest and most striking statement we have ever seen relative to the success of the prohibition movement. This statement is signed by the organization, and should forever lay at rest the threadbare fabrication that more liquor is sold in prohibition territory than in high license territory, and that “prohibition does not prohibit.” The statement referred to occurs in a document prepared and circulated by the organization for the purpose of causing the members to see the necessity of organization of some kind to oppose the prohibition movement. It reads:—
GENTLEMEN: Realizing that the prohibition movement, which is rapidly spreading over the United States, is serious enough to wipe out the entire industry unless energetic measures are taken to stem the tide, which has been largely created by the Anti-Saloon League through a manufactured and false sentiment, organization is necessary.
The remainder of the document deals with the details of the organization. It should be a matter of great encouragement to temperance workers everywhere that the success of their efforts has been sufficiently great not only to attract the attention of such organizations, but actually to cause them to tremble for the future of their business. It will be noted that this organization does not fear high license as a curtailer of the drunkard-making enterprise. It is the prohibition movement, and that alone, that “is serious enough to wipe out the entire industry.” The liquor interests have tried to ridicule prohibition out of court. They have carried on a campaign of misrepresentation against it until they have caused even clergymen to join them in opposing it and advocating high license. But the business is being smitten in a vital part, and smitten hard, and smitten by prohibition—and admits it. And now let the good work go on. When the enemy cries out on the battle-field against the use of a certain weapon, it is certain evidence to the attacking party that the weapon is accomplishing results. Prohibition prohibits, or it would not hurt the liquor interests.