Lobbying For Prohibition
There were many events and organizations that helped in the passing of Prohibition. In addition, many people were opposed to Prohibition from the start. During this time period, Prohibition supporters were often called "dry's" and Prohibition opponents were called "wet's".
The Dry Propeganda:
"Physical fitness is a farce without self-control, judgment, and discretion, which are the three qualities of mind first to be dulled by and made incompetent by the use of alcohol." |
"The homes that were happy are ruined and gone. The hearts that were merry are wretched and lone, And lives full of promise of good things to come, Are ruined and wreck'd by the Demon of Rum." "It's the club that takes the Saturday pay, |
The Wet Propeganda:
"I am a believer in moderation in everything. I believe in temperance. Therefore, I am opposed to Prohibition. Now, let us have a system of local option where in any given community they will support the enforcement of the law. Let's deal with human nature as it is. Understand what conditions are and then adopt laws to ameliorate them. Do not put a lot of laws on our statute books that we know in our hearts we can't enforce--Just an attempt to fool the people." "After the law abiding members of the business go out of the business and a complete readjustment follows, the pressure for violation and lax execution in communities where the law is not popular will be constant and increasing." |
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“The theory that the national Government can enforce any law will yield to the stubborn circumstance, and a Federal law will become as much a subject of contempt and ridicule in some parts of the national as laws of this kind have been in some States... I profoundly depreciate having out constitutional structure seriously amended by a feverish enthusiasm, which will abate to neglect and laxity in many States as the years go on."
--President William Howard Taft