THE DALLAS POST, DALLAS, PA. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 193 | 6. Let’s Have Done 4 _ A few years ago the American people, disgusted with the frightening reign of crime which Prohibition had spawned in this country, went to the polls and freed their nation from the bonds of a noble but tragic experiment. Almost instantly industry felt the benefits of the revival of a great industry. Men went back to work. “Factories buzzed ‘with activity again. A golden stream of dollars began spread- ing into every city and hamlet, across the country. A government which had learned by experience immed- ately converted money which had been going to racketeers and bootleggers into the public purse—and, besides spurring industry, the business which had been born with repeal began contributing heavily to even the smallest community. It paid teachers. It built roads. It financed new fire trucks. It gave people better towns. No one can deny that Prohibition was a failure. No one can deny that Repeal released a great economic force which has had a paramount part in leading America out of the de- pression. Now, well-meaning folk, bent upon bringing Prohibition back, are starting the dreary cycle all over again. First they will bar hard liquor. Next they will outlaw beer. Finally, America will have Prohibition again, with all its tragic waste lawlessness and futility. That is, America will have Prohibi- tion unless the thinking people put a stop to it now. OTE . In Lake Township, Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Kingston Township liberal, thinking voters will have an oppor- tunity to register their vote on the question on November 3. Local option in these towns will mean higher taxes, a great police problem, a diversion of money to neighboring towns and the return of all the evil things that were associated with Prohibition. Only three years ago local voters showed clearly that they were tired and disgusted with Prohibition. They turned in an overwhelming vote for Repeal. The improvement in condi- tions, the decrease in crime, the apprehension of the biggest racketeers and the regulations under which beer and liquor are now distributed -are tangible proofs of the wisdom of their decision. Another “noble experiment,” particularly in view of the flat failure of the last one, would be too expensive. Regard- less of whether you drink or whether you do not you cannot afford to vote without thinking. We plead with you to con- sider all sides of the question fairly, before you make your decision. We have faith in the intelligence of the voters in these four towns. They know what Prohibition was. Local Option is merely a plan to inflict those conditions on us alone, while the rest of the country benefits. It is even more unfair than National Prohibition. Un-American Hypocrisy Before You Vote Consider These Things! America’s “newest industry” employs a million people! The jobs of those people will be endangered if the liquor market is cut off. The House of Schenley alone provides jobs for 47,000 persons, directly and indirectly, whose purchases benefit 82 industries. Can we afford to cripple such industries by local option? The taxes collected last year from the liquor industry totaled $635,805,929.94, $458,494,721 Federal and $117, 311,208.94 State. Isn’t it better to have this money used for schools and roads and relief of the poor than to divert it again into the hands of the bootlegger and racketeer? The Repeal of Prohibition was a part of America’s plan of Recovery. Is it common gratitude now to turn thumbs down on an industry which has played a major part in putting people back to work? If the finest forces of law and order in the nation were unable to cope with lawlessness under Prohibition, how can the limited police forces of our towns hope to maintain law and order? Under Prohibition crime, disrespect for law, drinking by youths, speakeasies, high-jacking and smuggling flourished. Are we going to open our communities to those influences again? Let's have done with un-American hypocrisy, which en- courages people to vote dry and drink wet. Let's preserve our Liberty to do what we want when we want so long as it harms no one who disagrees with us. Let's be sensible Americans. Let's defeat Local Option, once and for all. FQ) on — NOVEMBER THIRD - - This Advertisement Paid For By Civic-Minded Citizens ny = 1 i | i ’ 9 | es ~~ =
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers