THE STATE PURCHASE OF THE LIQUOR TRADE. rTo THE EDITOR
OF TRY "SPECTATOR."' Sin,—I notice that the Executive of the Good Templars Order have passed a resolution against the State purchase of the liquor trade. As a total abstainer in practice and a pro- hibitionist in theory, may I express my regret at the attitude taken up by the Good Templars P For generations reformers have been toiling in this land for temperance reform with the scantiest results. The most obstinate obstacles are the vested interests in the trade. State purchase, whatever its theoretical demerits, has the sovereign merit of removing the greatest obstacle to reform. I do not say it will solve the problem, but it will create conditions in which the solution will be com- paratively easy. To insist on prohibition is to defer reform until the Greek Kalends ; it is indeed playing into the enemy's hands, for prohibition is not within the range of practical politics, for the simple reason that it is not popular to-day. At the annual meeting of the South Wales Congregational Union last March the writer moved a resolution in support of prohibition. Though there were present about a hundred delegates, mostly ministers, yet only five supported my resolution, the rest voting against. Such facts are stubborn things. State purchase is within the range of practical polities and finds very general support. May I say that readers interested in the problem will find much useful information on the subject in some recent pamphlets by Mr. Arthur Sherwell, M.P., and Sir Thomas Whittaker, M.P., published by the Temperance Legislation League at Parlia- ment Mansions, Victoria Street, S.W. 2—I am, Sir, &c.,
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