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' WIDNISDAY, FEBRUARY S, 1936-

w... l; Responsible‘?

In the brief presented by the Temperance Federation to the Caurnur. Government last week, one point of considerable importance was seemingly overlooked. That was with regard to the placing of responsibility where it now unques- tionably rests. We refer to the Attorney General's department. JIt was allegedly in order to make this department fully responsible for enforce- ment of the law that the Prohibition Commission was abolished and the salary of the Attorney General increased from $1,500 to $2,000.

It will be recalled that when this legislative change was effected at the special session of Sept. 25 last, Hon. THANE A. CAMPBELL, At- torney General, made an explanation_ He said : “Since 1918 the Prohibition Act has been ad- ministered by a Board of Commissioners. At first there were six members; in 1928 they were reduced to three. The feeling was that by ap- pointing a Board of Commissioners the admin- istration of the Act was being taken out of poli- tics and successive governments appeared to be only too anxious to comply with this provision because it seemed to them to be an easy way of passing the buck, as it were. and shifting respon- sibility for the enforcement of the Act. -In my experience it has neither done this nor has it led to cflicient or economic administration. It appears to me that since the Government is re- sponsible for the administration of this law the Government should take that responsibility on its own shoulders, and not only that but should have and exercise full and complete control."

This " full and complete control,” demanded by the Attorney General at the September session was granted to him by the Legislature-thus doing away with what he complained was an " anomalous situation " inasmuch as the Mounted Police, though nominally subject to his direc-

tion, had previously been subject to the direction of the Prohibition Commission in matters aris- ing under the Prohibition Act.

The criticism of the’ Temperance Federa- tion, therefore, should properly have been direct- ed, not to the R.C.M.P. or the City Police. but to the Attorney General, as he himself has made it clear that there is to be no more “ passing the buck, so to speak " and that “ since "the Government is responsible for the adminis- tration of this law, the Government should take that responsibility on its own shoulders.”

Since he is now Premier as well as Attorney General, Mr. Camrnnu. will doubtless feel that he is doubly responsible in this regard. At any fate, having placed the administration of the Act back into politics, he has made it impossible to discuss the question at all without frankly rec- ognizing this aspect of the situation.

A Year Of Centenaries

,Ma.ny notable names and events will be re- called by centenary and other anniversary dates during the year logo-ranging the wide fields of literature, politics, science and art.‘

_ i Scotland in this connection furnishesa host in itself. Last month Greenock held a week’s commemoration of a figure of world-wide fame -—JAMzs WATT, of steam and engineering dis- covery and development. The son of a Greenock builder and merchant, bVarr was born in that town on January i9, r736, and died in London in 1819. Another Scot who left his mark on mod- erndevelopment was Jorrn LOUDON MACADAM, the Ayrshire genius whose new methods of road construction gained him fame and fortune, Born at Ayr in r756, he died on November 26, r836. Scotland's earliest historian, H-zcroiz Boeca or Bosrinvs, is recalled by the 400th anniversary of his death at Aberdeen where he became the first Principal of King's College. He was a native of Dundee. In i736 there was born James Mac- PHERSON, a native of Badenoch, Inverncss-shire, who, on coming to Edinburgh, became the sub- ject of the famous Ossian controversy.

Among famous soldiers we have Sir Joan HEPBURN‘ and GEOllGE GORDON, sixth Earl and first Marquis of Huntly, notorious for man£his- torical exploits, including the burning of oni- bristle Castle, Fife, and the killing of the ‘Bonnie Earl of Moray" of the famous ballad. Both died in i636. Groaoc, fifth Duke of Gordon, who raised the Gordon Highlanders regiment, died a. century ago. A tragic anniversary is the quin- centenary of the assassination of James I. of Scotland in Blackfriars Monastery, Perth, on February 2o, 1536.

In addition to Scottish names there are many with a wider association to be recalled during 1936. Among literary anniversaries, fior example. there are Sir Wanna BESANT, the English nov- elist; Sir F. C. Bonn/um, the humorist and fa- mous editor oi “Punch"; and a sweet-singing woman poet and hymn-writer, FRANCES Rrnnnv Havucan, all born roo years ago; and Rouoar or: Lisur, the French artillery captain who wrote

. France's National Anthem, “The Marseillaise,"

ilflh.

and died in r836. _

Four hundred years ago there died Eras- grecrpbilosopher, a native of Holland; ‘showman Tvnnans. one bf the _ of the Bible, was martyred. Fin '18“ include Sir Eowup Povrrns

Jury a a» J ans.

(b. r836), whose eye-glass was as well-known to an earlier generation as Mr, Bawwirfs pipe is to this. Although not a Midlander, he made a

family have ever since been connected with that great city. Only a little less famous was Sir HENRY cAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (b. 1836) who served in several Ministeries, finally becoming Prime Minister. He did valuable work in many directions, especially perhaps in South Africa, and the first real struggle between the two Hous- es of Parliament took place during his regime.

This brief list _does notpretend to exhaust the anniversaries of 1936, but it may serve to indicate that there will be ample opportunity for commemoration during the year; also too, for reassessment and revaluation.

Editorial Notes

Interest in City Council election is beginning to become general. ill # After all these years of practical experience and results, protagonists are still discussing the pros and cons of Prohibition.‘ if 9k 9K Aren't we well off this winter compared with our unfortunate fallow citizens on the North American Continent ? 9K 3K 3K _ If that meat market strike in London had begun on February 26, Ash Wednesday, there would have been some sense to it. 9K 3K 5k

Tomorrow Parliament with its big majority in the Commons, and big minority in the Senate, begins its first session under a. new King and retrieved Prime Migéisti.

It is riot likely any Mayor for sometime will obtain the Royal and foreign distinctions con- ferred upon retiring 'Mayor KENNEDY by King

lic. . pub it 5K 9K _ It is stated the Nova Scotia Liberal Govern- ment intends borrowing $14,000,000 in order to improve roads and provide employment. As there is likely to be an election next year, it should provide an election fund as well.

5K 5K if

It cannot be alleged that HITLER is over op- timistic regarding the efficacy of his restoration plans. He told 25,000 of his StormTroopers in Berlin on the third anniversary of his accession to power that the Nazi goal of unity and unani- mity would be reaclzézd aikn 1:0 years.

When dentists differ their patients must continue to suffer the pains of the condemned. The University of Michigan School of Dentistry just advises us that the recently announced de- sensitizer wouldnot prove to be a. ‘panacea for relief from all pain from instrumentation in the dental chair.” It says novocain is still the better bet. iK 9K 5k

Mr. JAMES M. BECK, former United States Solicitor General recalls this joke which he says was told him by King GEORGE V: During the World War, before the United States entered, an American traveller tried to strike up a conversa- tion with an Englishman. He mentioned the Battle of the Somme and quipped “Somme Battle l" The Englisljkma; reatlprted, “Some don't!"

Rt. Hon. Ramsay MACDONALD, M.P., is the first non-graduate ever to be elected for a Scot- tish University. It seems a crowning glory to a career begun as a pupil-teacher in a small High- land glen, by a. youth too poor to seek entrance as a University under graduate. Our present Governor-general, as Join: BUCIIAN, represented the same group of Iiniriaersaiéies in Parliament.

Our Premier (plus legal President of Council) and Attorney-general has no opinion to offer on the vital question of to be or not to be opposed to the proposed amendment of our constitution. The Province is at a disadvantage in having as Premier and Attorney-general a gentleman who devotes himself to private prac- tice as well. It is still impracticable, as it ever was, to serve two mistgs htoncstly. '

Wonders will never cease. Three hundred years a ter Room: WILLIAMS was expelled from Massa{husetts because of religious differences with t e Puritans, the Legislature last week heard arguments that his sentence of expulsion should be revoked. The petitioner, K, H. WASl-IBURN of Middleboro, acted on the “bet- ter late than never" theory. The request was in connection with this year's celebrationbf the tercentenary of Rhode Island, where Roan WILLIAMS went to settle after the Massachusetts Bay colony would have ‘to ‘more of him. ~ as

How iould "ski" be pronounced. The New

York Times has its own doubts and its own way

of settling them. New England saw the Norse-

men six hundred years before it saw the Pilgrims and the Puritans, it says. Mr. Lonorrtrrows Skeleton in Armor and his blue-eyed maid may have travelled on skis over a snowbound Vinland

dotted with fewer colleges and shoe factories than now, but probably no colder than today. ‘So it seems only fair that New England's hills should once more re-echo to the Norse vernacu- lar, skee or she. The big dietionarfi plump: for skee, but has a note saying that in ngland they

prefer she. Good Americans will thereforeaay

skee; unless, that is, they have sold out to’ AL Slnrir and King Eawagn XIII.

We have heard little of sterilization schemes since the action was initiated by a daughter

, against her mother and doctor, allegingjtbe per-

formaneeof an operation to tle ve her of her

inherlmlee There will pro also .be less heard of? matey shying," or “lethal cham- Illll Cl’

fortune in Birmingham (from screws) and his '

GEORGE V and the President of the French Rc- _

from the nave-l conference uld that tn the event of war _Jap_ln ‘would wln even lf the retlo stood tan to one against. It's. people who have the ldea they can ltck all hrnltlon who start wars-end let someone else flnlsh them-Port Arthur News Chronicle. ~ '

In China and Elypt lhulenh seem to be more concerned wlth nlotlng than studying. Of course Chlna and Esypt or, not alone ln this. The mental balance of many students ls apt to be unstable. In, their search for knowledge there

NotesBy The Way -. PUBLIC FQRUM ~ ' ' Ibl|_e0lunn ls obi! "Q ‘a n» In wlll‘ ' “ma,” "i, “mi.

fTl-IE commoner-own. GUARDIAN

‘III Charlottetown Purim doll Pfl‘

rslinuanv. s, m,

sazfloim

of ecrrgepeldeltl.

THE FEDEIATIDN’! IIIJEI’

guydlt ls to be regretted that the reverend and esteemed 881m!‘ men whose names are appended to the memorandum or brief submlttetl to the Government on Prlday last had not examined with a little moi-ecmthedocument, , ‘ for them before c-tfxlng tbelr signa- tures. - No cause la ever helped by extra-

must be tlmes when they an out of trlm and tf they are caught ln a. storm under these conditions their behaviour tends to be violent- ly errutlc. iii

Convicted tn the lrlgle 5.8.

Mono Castle case, the aetmg master of-that vessel has been sen- tenced by a. United States court to two years ln prlson and the chlef engineer to four years. Declaring lt would "not bring back a single llfe to have extended the term of sent.

ence which I have imposed," Judgq Hulbert said: “The real thing, we

are interested ln here ls that the

indictment wlll have a» salutary

effect." That ls what ls needed. No nation can afford to let it be thought that the regulatlons tt makes for safety at sea are flouted or negllgently observed. Al: the sum "-1118. 1n punlshlng these ship's of-

flwffl. the Jlldllc took occasion to

observe that much of the blame for

dlsasters such cs this must rest on

the government and the passengers.

If either governments or the travel-

llng public counter: nee laxlty when

they are, or should be able to detect

lt. helm ls contributory negligence.

EX.

Invsplte of its errors and lt| faults, the democratic system has undergone the test of the economic crlsls better than others, aecordlng to the English newspapers. To dem- onstrate lt, theyclle certain good examples, more particularly that of France. Al; the beginning of 1935 there was fear of a. revolutlon there. However, ln the face of a grave emergency the extremist parties agreed among themselves that they must postpone untll later the settlement of their quarrels. . .0n the other hand we perceive that the sltuatlon ln oountrles unfriendly to popular government ls less favor- able. The Itallan dictatorship ls en- gaged ln compromlslng ln a mllltary adventure what ll." had galned dur- lng ten years of economic and poll- tlcal torment, The Hltlerlte tyranny ls llkewlse dragging Genn- any into a. rectal and mllltary Sllflfllfllblon which may well bring

vagant or ‘ curate statement. Quite the contrary. Int-he contat of nlns years ago snfllclent exper- ience of such a handlcap was ob- talned to last a llfetlme. A certain sermon dellvered professedly on. be- half of Prohlbltlon was so filled with exaggerated and highly-col- oured statements that lt became one of the chlefest obstacles with which those who sought to maln- taln the 1-7 “bltlon Iaw had to contend. It was quoted repeatedly bot-b ln the press and on the plat- form by those who clafmed that Prohibition had “felled? So with the statements on IH-ldey last. The picture ls overdrawn. I fem- lc wlll become the very means of defeating lta own purpose. No one deplores the present altu “ more than the writer of this letter. How can any honest cltlzen fall to regret that law ls violated or that the effects of the use of llquor are what they are? All wlll admlt that the use of lntoidcants ls a danger and all too frequently a. detrlment to morality. All good citizens wlll deplore when they find that law vlolatlons take place and the oflen- ders are not brought to justice. It was never the intention that law should be violated, although 1t ls known to all persons of common- sense that law wlll be violated. Oflloers of the law are then sup- posed to do t-helr duty and brlng the partles to justice Necessarlly they must fall sometimes, perhaps many tlmes, but this does not de- tract from the law.

The Federation's Brlef states that

“bootlegglng has become a great

industry"; that l.n far too many cases lt. ls "undisturbed by the offl- cers of the law”; that immoral llvlng flourishes"; that; local po-

llce should busy themselves "daily

bringing in some of the hundreds of oflenclers ‘against the law." Sur- ely these are overdrmwn statements.

Does any reasonable person suggest

that on any slngle clay 1n the year offenders can be found who can

be brought tn in hundreds? If that

ls not‘ the intended meaning why wrlte carelessly and equlvocnlly? Why express a matter ln such a. way that its possibly incorrect. I1

about lts ruln. As for Sovlet Russia. which ls slowly recovering from its communlstlc experlmenh. . . fear ls bringing lt. back to a wlser pollcy, both as regards its foreign relatlons and the carrying out of lts internal pollcles. The relative prosperlty of the Anglo-Saxon countries and the American republics adds weight to

ence to the drink. “The vlclous and ‘destructive

you wlll, and exaggerated meaning

can be used against the law.

What comfort too the Moder- atlonlsts and those who advocate

‘legal beverage sale of llquor wlll

take from the Federation's refer- "abuse” of- strong

IQOGI‘ I SONG Hero where the bee slept- lnd the orchls llfted

Her honeytng plpes of pearl. ho!‘ velvet llp,

Only the swart leaves of the oil! 11H drlfbed

‘In sombre fellowship.

Hero where the name-weed set the lands alight, _

Lies the bleak upland webbed and crowned with white

Bulld high the logs, O love, and ln thine eyes

Let m‘: belleve the summer lingers

to. .

We shall not mlas her psaslve pag- eantrles,

We are not desolate,

When on the stll, across the window

bars, Klnd winter fltngs her flowers and her stars.

-Marjorle Plckthall.

n.

law for the rlcla and e for the poor." They mlgbt have more deflnltely expressed tt, ._pollttcally rlch and polltlcolly poor.

The September amendm to the Prohlbltlon Act. does not pretend to abollsh the Prohlbltlon Com- mlsslon. ‘that body was appointed by statute the salary fixed by the same authorlty,‘ for a three year term, They are stlll a corporate body. the Attorney General, plso by statute, prescribed to “Functloxfl ln carrying out. their obligations.

But what happens, when the At- tomey General neglects or refuses to so “functlon"? The tenor of the "flederatlorrs" protest ls that thls neglect or refusal to fuhcllon la the gist of their grievance. There ls practically llttle of law enforcement ln llquor cases. The bootlegger ls the white headed boy ln popular favor.

It would be PBIl-hrent to ash-if all those bootleggera who are now under- sentence of flne or lmprlson- ment, whn have not pcld their fines or served their tlrne ln jall, were placed behlnd the bars, would there be any left to peddle llllclt rum on our public highways, or under cov- er of the beck alley dives 7

I am, Slr, etc., PROHIBITIONIST-

THE HOSPITAL PLEDGES

Sin-May I have a. small space to voice my entlments, and the sentl- ments of a number of other people‘ 1n the country, about the Hospital csmpalgn. we were approached for subserlptlcna for the new buildings, lust before the depression, and people subscrlbed quite liberally. Some have made their payments, and a lot more have not. Not be-

mentary Quebec.

the arguments ln favour of parlia- lnstltutlons. — LeSolelt,

a mar-smart.

Failure to suppress the slave trade ln Ethiopia ls given as one of the excuses for the attack on that country. But. when lt ls remembered that it took Britain 30» years to achieve that end ln the Sudan, ll: ls hardly to be wondered at that l-lalle Selassie hasnot been able to no. compllsh lt completely ln about a decade-Snuff Star.

Investors who strongly oppose a reductlon tn Interest rates, on the ground that tt lmplles the repudla- tton of a solemn obllgatlon under- taken by the borrower, should ask themselves how Canada can hope to escape a reductlon of ln- tzerest rates when Britain ltself was compelled to enter on such a course. Canada's financial posltlon ls not so nuieh stronger than Edwin's that it. can afford to contlnue to meet lts interval: burden with new and larger- ln a continuous pyra- mldlng of debt. Under ouch a pro- cess lt ls only c. questton of time

llef afforded to the taxpayer.-Tor-

onto Telegram.

‘thirty-nine yOlII In the first elrmelldellvenedlettcrsfromlvew zeeluid ln the Great Barrier InlsndsAfter thattbe mall was

trail

at, .4:

n. case of friends?"

ln the llfe of thlsProvln the efforts which have been ‘made ln the past. by our leglslatma to zpewlthorlomlnlmlrethlsevll refer excluslvely to facts (and of course‘ to comments upon facts) u shown tn the history of lezlslatlon upon the subject. It seems to me that such a hlstory, by showlng what the law was destined or Inten- ded to do, the oondltlons whlch from time

influences resulting from the abuse of strong drink," say the Federa- tlon. Surely the Moderatlonlsts wlll joln hands with the Federal-ton ln condemning the "abuse of strong drink.” I though the Federation

went further and condemned the use ln any quantity of lntloxlcants.

Are we to revlse our opinion of the Federatloms alms or ls ll; again "Save us from our

So much has been wrltten, some of-lts carelessly written, on the sub-

ject of llquor and the Prohlbltlon Act; so much confuslon of thought has resulted from vague and inac- curate statements and from lack of appreclation of the place of law ln

dealing with this evll, that I am tempted to venture a review of the posltlon which llquor has occupied ce and of