Woodrow Wilson as I Know HimTumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
History
Woodrow Wilson as I Know Him
Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
I thank you most cordially, Senator, for your kindness in consulting
me in this matter, which is of very considerable importance, and has a
very distinct bearing upon many collateral questions.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
War-time prohibition was ingenuously made part of the Agricultural
Appropriation Bill, which contained many items necessary for the effective
prosecution of the war. So strongly did the President feel about the
matter, that I am frank to say that if war-time prohibition had stood
alone and was disconnected from any other bill, I believe it would have
been vetoed.
After the Armistice, agitation at once began, inspired by the "dry"
advocates throughout the country, to prolong war-time prohibition, but the
President felt that the object and purpose of war-time prohibition, if any
ever existed, having been served, it was only right, proper, and fair that
there should be an immediate repeal of it, and that only resentment and
restlessness throughout the country would follow the attempt to prolong
war-time prohibition beyond the time provided in the statute which created
it.
It was unfortunate that the "dry" advocates did not see the thing through
the eyes of the President. Apparently not fully satisfied with the victory
they had won through the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment, they sought
to push the advantage thus gained still further, and through war-time
prohibition to establish their policy of restriction as a permanent policy
of the country. Realizing that prohibition as a permanent policy and by
constitutional amendment had been definitely established in a
constitutional way, the President was reluctant to take a stand that would
even in spirit be a violation of this, but he also felt that the "dry"
advocates were simply using a war crisis ruthlessly to press forward their
views and to cajole vacillating congressmen into supporting it because it
was known as a "dry" measure. In a letter which I addressed to the
President on September 7, 1918, I strongly urged the veto of the
Agricultural Appropriation Bill containing war-time prohibition:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 7, 1918.
MY DEAR GOVERNOR:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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