Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1937 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
by generous government support and almost complete freedom
in expanding its business and regaining its former sinister
political influence. "Practically every law which safeguarded
our people from the ravages of the liquor traffic has been
ferreted out and cast into the discard." Elections held even
now in territory which normally would be dry, give evidence
of tampering and manipulation. The climax of all this is the
unprecedented entrance of the Unites States government into
the rum business through the Departmet of Interior's work
relief project in the Virgin Islands.
The way was prepared for the repeal of our national prohibition
law by propaganda, highly financed, brazenly dishonest,
expertly promoted. This propaganda continues under
higher pressure than ever. Working in organizations and
institutes, whose real character is skillfully camouflaged by
high sounding names, with millions of dollars for advertising
and promotion expenses, and the most brilliant minds to direct
their strategy, every possible effort is being made to regain
for the traffic what was lost during the days of prohibition.
A special effort is being made to fasten the drink habit on
the youth and women of our country. Liquor papers are full
of advice as to how liquor representatives may worm their way
into the good graces of the public. Efforts continue to embarrass
and muzzle our public school system by bribes offered
in the form of a paltry few million dollars of school tax.
Efforts have even been made to contact the National Safety
Council and persuade its directors to soft pedal the incriminating
evidence against alcohol in the heavy toll of life in traffic
accidents. Also liquor representatives are urged to contact
court officials and suppress that statement which appears so
frequently in the trials of traffic offenders, "I just had a
couple of beers."
The action of our Congress in March, 1933, legalizing 3.2
per cent beer while the 18th Amendment was still the law of
the land, has been a tremendous advantage to the beer trade.
Following the lead of the federal government the trade has
succeeded in separating beer from classification with other
liquors in new legislation in many states. The traffic in beer
has always comprised about 9 0 per cent of the liquor traffic
of our country. Now beer is being pushed to the limit by
the brewers as a "temperance" drink. Yet, all the while
undeniable, scientific evidence is piling up which shows that
even one or two beers incapacitate the mind and body for all
activities requiring a prompt, accurate response.
The liquor bill of the United States last year was over three
billion dollars. This was clear loss. Our president seems to
be profoundly concerned that one-third of our nation are
"ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-fed." The three billion dollars wasted
on booze last year, for which he and his administration are
largely in prohibition family advantage bringing budget responsible, they levels. consumption of could every But would be one given, four up of have only those times the added to liquor families. more about $30 forces distilled 60 per In per have month spite cent liquor succeedeu of of to every pre-
was the