PROHIBITION: A Program

William D. Upshaw, Congressman from Georgia, Baptist, author of Earnest Willie, or Echoes from a Recluse, formerly a Vice President of the Anti-Saloon League, last Winter caused an Upshaw uproar. He protested against drinking of spirituous refreshments, even in the Capitol, by members of Congress. Indications are that he will renew his efforts in the next Congress, for, addressing the W. C. T. U. last week, he reiterated his opinions and laid out a program:

“The appalling picture of commonwealths flouted by the friends of liquor, the Federal Constitution flagrantly violated and our national flag daily defied, which we see on every hand, does not mean that the patriotic friends of sobriety cannot ultimately win. … I propose a rum-proof, booze-tight, clean-up program.

“First: Declaration of total abstinence by all officials with appointive power and the executive guillotine for every Federal appointee, high and low, who privately or publicly drinks the liquor which our Constitution has outlawed. The President uttered wholesome, worthy sentiments in his conference with the Governors. . . . The friends of national sobriety were eager and are yet eager for him to smash every bottle in official Washington.

“Second: Make buyers of liquor equally guilty with sellers.

“Third: Make jail sentence plus fine imperative in case of every offender.

“Fourth: Confiscation of all liquor in bond with fair payment by Government.

“Fifth: Stop all manufacture of liquor by private individuals or corporations, the Government making only necessary alcohol for scientific and medicinal purposes.

“Sixth: Separate prohibition enforcement bureau with commissioner carrying full responsibility and amenable only to the President.

“Seventh: Put all prohibition enforcement officers under civil service, requiring total abstinence pledge.

“Eighth: Immediate deportation of all aliens who violate the prohibition law.

“Ninth: Employ Navy and Army, if necessary, to stop the debauching of American shores by rum-runners, domestic and foreign.”

Representative Upshaw is an evangelist by profession. During the Summer it is his custom to conduct “revivals” in one or more of the Washington churches. He believes that “common sense should be a big part in religion” and has been known to adjure the male members of his audience to “take off your coat if there are no holes in your shirt. So long as the weather remains warm I intend that no one shall suffer!”