The discontent of the worker is something to be considered--even by fanatics who would rule us by force, and seek to restrain too thoroughly man’s natural appetites. One must take into account the wishes of that vast army who do the drudgery of the world; and it does not require an immense amount of imagination to understand what the years may bring. If there is an apparent stolid indifference now in the realms of labor, the _Digest’s_ poll would seem to contradict any such belief. That the workingman is beginning to realize that a distinct form of class legislation has taken place there can be no doubt. I think the authorities would never dare to encroach upon a laborer’s rights in the matter of home brew. Yet they must be aware that, deprived of his only club, the corner saloon, the workingman who still desires a glass of beer occasionally is methodically producing it. Against the law? To the devil with the law, says the hard-working day laborer, when the rich disobey it every hour of their lives. Another factory, which employs women, was also canvassed. This was the establishment of the Campbell’s Soup Company in New Jersey. Approximately 30 per cent of the workers polled were women; yet the vote is against the present laws by a proportion of 9 to 1. This is how the voting ran: For enforcement 162 For modification 720 For repeal 750 But the final figures are the most interesting of all. A summary of 922,383 ballots revealed this result, which must have proved disheartening to the Anti-Saloon League: _SUMMARY OF 922,383 BALLOTS ON PROHIBITION_ _For Enforcement_ _For Modification_ _For Repeal_ Main Poll 306,255--(38.5%) 325,549--(41.1%) 164,453--(20.4%) Women’s Poll 48,485--(44.5%) 39,914--(36.7%) 20,448--(18.8%) Factory Polls 1,453--( 8.4%) 10,871--(62.1%) 4,955--(29.5%) ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- TOTALS 356,193--(38.6%) 376,334--(40.8%) 189,856--(20.6%) Is it necessary for anyone to say anything further about the temper of the country? Facts are facts. To repeat what my friend in Omaha said: “Prohibition was all right--until we got it!” CHAPTER XVI LITERATURE AND PROHIBITION The Young-Old Philosopher has recently been traveling over the country as far west as the Coast. He had heard that conditions, so far as Prohibition was concerned, were excellent out there; but he wished to observe for himself. He found them quite the contrary. In states like Oregon and Washington, which went dry long before national Prohibition became an established fact, the people were obtaining anything they desired. Close to the border, there is plenty of bootlegging, endless daring adventuring in the liquor traffic, many a bold plunge over the line to bring whiskey and gin into United States territory.