Part 34 (1/2)

Tiain e discussed the Volstead Act, he would say: ”The wrong way of doing the right thing You cannot regulate theunreasonable restrictions upon their liberty and freedom All such attempts can only end in failure and disappointment In the last analysis, in these ulate personal habits and custoulator”

In New Jersey, where he served as governor, the liquor question had been for ubernatorial caovernor took hold of the situation Many political futures had been wrecked and wasted by ambitious politicians who tried to ”pussyfoot” on this issue But there was no shying away from it by Woodrow Wilson When the question was presented to hiue early in his adovernor, without evasion of any kind, he stated his views in the following letter addressed to the head of the Anti-Saloon League:

Executive Office, Trenton, New Jersey

I ah believer in local self-govern coht to control theof licenses

But the questions involved are social andramme Whenever they have been made the subject anization and party action athwart, to the utter confusion of political action in every other field They have thrown every other question, however iround and have ether

So far as I am myself concerned, therefore, I can never consent to have the question of local option ment is very clear in this hest consequence to the political life of the state and the nation ought to be thrust to one side and hopelessly e a political issue of a great question that is essentially non- political, non-partisan,these views, that the liquor question was one which was ”essentially non-political, non-partisan, moral and social in its nature,” the President refused by any act of his to influence public opinion when the Eighteenth Amendment was up for consideration in the Senate and House

He deeply resented and strenuously opposed the passage of war-time prohibition as uncalled for and unnecessary In his opinion, it was not a food-conservation measure, but an out-and-out atteency to declare the country ”dry” by Congressional action There was another reason for his attitude of opposition to war-tio placed upon beer, the consue stocks in the country, would be stireat extent In this opinion he was supported by Mr Herbert Hoover, Food Administrator In a letter of May 28, 1918, to Senator Sheppard, the leader of the prohibition forces in the Senate, he explained his opposition to war-time prohibition in these words:

THE WHITE HOUSE, WAshi+NGTON

May 28, 1918

HON MORRIS SHEPPARD, United States Senate

MY DEAR SENATOR:

I was very much distressed by the action of the House I do not think that it is wise or fair to attempt to put such compulsion on the Executive in a matter in which he has already acted almost to the limit of his authority What is almost entirely overlooked is that there were, as I ae stocks of whiskey in this country, and it see of beer were prevented entirely, along with all other drinks, many of them harmless, which are derived from food and food stuffs, the consumption of whiskey would be stimulated and increased to a very considerable extent

My own judgment is that it is wise and statesmanlike to let the situation stand as it is for the present, until at any rate I shall be apprised by the Food Adested still further to conserve the supply of food and food stuffs The Food Ado any further than we have in that one

I thank youme in this matter, which is of very considerable i upon many collateral questions

Cordially and sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON

War-tiricultural Appropriation Bill, which contained many items necessary for the effective prosecution of the war So strongly did the President feel about the matter, that I am frank to say that if war-time prohibition had stood alone and was disconnected from any other bill, I believe it would have been vetoed

After the Aran, inspired by the ”dry”

advocates throughout the country, to prolong war-time prohibition, but the President felt that the object and purpose of war-ti been served, it was only right, proper, and fair that there should be an immediate repeal of it, and that only resenthout the country would follow the atte war-time prohibition beyond the time provided in the statute which created it

It was unfortunate that the ”dry” advocates did not see the thing through the eyes of the President Apparently not fully satisfied with the victory they had won through the adoption of the Eighteenth Aained still further, and through war-time prohibition to establish their policy of restriction as a per that prohibition as a permanent policy and by constitutional amendment had been definitely established in a constitutional way, the President was reluctant to take a stand that would even in spirit be a violation of this, but he also felt that the ”dry”

advocates were si a war crisis ruthlessly to press forward their views and to cajole vacillating congress it because it was known as a ”dry” measure In a letter which I addressed to the President on Septericultural Appropriation Bill containing war-time prohibition:

THE WHITE HOUSE WAshi+NGTON

September 7, 1918

MY DEAR GOVERNOR:

In the discussion we had a few days ago with reference to the pending ”dry” legislation, I tried to emphasize the fact that under the Food Control Law you had the power to do what Congress is now seeking to do in a way that will cause great irritation Your action of yesterday fixing December first as the day on which the prohibition of the thens what I said Your action and the action of the Senate a day or two ago in giving you the right to establish zones about shi+pyards and ain shows the unnecessary character of this legislation You are, therefore, now in a strong position to veto this legislation as unnecessary and unwarranted

In view of all of this, I wish to eers, both of a political and industrial character, that confront us should we agree to go forith those who favour legislation of this radical and restricted character Even the most ardent prohibitionists fear the reactionary effect of this legislation upon the pending constitutional amendment I am afraid of its effects upon the voters of our party in the large centres of population throughout the country, and of the deep resentment from all classes that is bound to follow