"NEW YORK: MODEL CITY OF PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT?"

MINISTERS PLEDGE TO HELP ENFORCE PROHIBITION

New York City (JFK+50) On January 23, 1922, 500 ministers representing a variety of congregations met at Madison Avenue Baptist Church here in New York City pledging "to help the government enforce prohibition in any possible legal way."

The delegates to the union prohibition meeting, according to the Tribune, "agreed to use all their moral, physical and spiritual forces" to help in stopping the sale of illegal liquor.

Prohibition Commissioner Roy A. Haynes*, a guest speaker at the meeting, said...

"We intend to make New York a model city in the way of enforcement."

JFK+50 NOTE

According to Mark Thornton of Cato Institute, as alcohol became more dangerous to consume (during the 1920s & early 1930s), "crime increased and became 'organized'."  Consumers switched to more dangerous opium, cocaine, etc. but alcohol consumption began increasing in 1922.  In fact, heightened enforcement "did not curtail consumption."  Thornton argues the 'noble experiment' was a failure.

As to Roy Haynes intention to make New York City "a model...in...enforcement," Esad Metjahic writes...

"It would be fair to say that New York City never truly accepted prohibition."  He argues that the 'City of Immigrants' never gave in to it because liquor was 'the only thing' that the people of a city as diverse as NY "had in common."

*Roy Asa Haynes (1881-1940) was editor of The Hillsboro (Ohio) Dispatch & advocate for the Anti-Saloon League.  RAH was appointed by President Harding as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Treasury in charge of prohibition enforcement.

SOURCES

"Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure," by Mark Thornton, July 17, 1991, CATO Institute, www.cato.org/

"500 Preachers Agree to Help Haynes Stop Rum Sales Here," The New York Tribune, January 24, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"Prohibition-era New York," History of New York City by Esad Metjahic, www.blogs.shu.edu/

 

 

Roy Asa Haynes

Time Magazine Cover

July 23 1923 

"JANUARY 16: A DATE WORTH REMEMBERING...BUT BE SURE TO CELEBRATE DECEMBER 5"

PROHIBITION GOES INTO EFFECT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 16, 1920, the National Prohibition Act* took effect "implementing the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution" which had been ratified one year earlier.

The 18th Amendment, Section 1 reads...

"After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United states and all territories subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited."

According to the Constitution Center, the 18th Amendment was the result of the work of the national temperance movement whose members believed alcohol use to be "reckless and destructive," and that Prohibition would "reduce crime and corruption" and "improve the health of all Americans."

Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out that way.  The United States experienced the rise of bootlegging and smuggling accompanied by violent crime and government corruption.

"The Noble Experiment," as it was called, ended with ratification of the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933.  William Shughart II says that while January 16 is "a date worth remembering...be sure to celebrate...December 5."

*The National Prohibition Act was informally known as the Volstead Act, named after Andrew Volstead, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who managed the legislation.  The law was drafted by Wayne Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon League.

SOURCES

"January 16, 1919: The 18th Amendment Is Ratified, Prohibition of Alcohol Becomes Law," Richard Kreitne and The Almanac, January 16, 2005. www.the nation.com/

"January 16, 1920: Another day that should live in infamy," by William F. Shughart II, January 15, 2016, The Hill, www.thehill.com/

www.constitutioncenter.org/