Meng, J.A.C. 1926-03-12

Description:	Letter from Eugene V. Debs, 3/12/1926. Writes that he does not have much time to respond to Mengs letter because he and his wife are getting ready to leave for a trip to Bermuda. Tells Meng that he did not have him personally in mind when he wrote his article about the rotten and utterly damnable administration of the enforcement laws of prohibition. Says that he aimed his article at the so-called prohibitionists who are also bootleggers. Informs Meng that he is the uncompromising enemy of prohibition and always have been. Tells Meng that he does not believe in the blue law fallacy that men can be made moral and decent by prohibition and repression and by the enforcement of brutal punitive regulations. Mentions that Meng should not get the wrong idea and think that Victor Berger is a supporter of the present system of prohibition. Remarks that Meng is wrong to think that the liquor traffic affects only the rich. Mentions that Meng could not be more wrong. Assures Meng that thousands of people have turned their homes into breweries and will never be stopped from producing alcohol. Says that as long as there is corn, wheat, and grapes grown there will be alcohol. Writes that true manliness and self-respect are not the product of prohibition and suppression but of freedom and independence. Mentions that he wrote his article about prohibition after two prohibition agents came to Terre Haute, Indiana and used a prostitute as a ploy to arrest a man on a narcotics charge.
Origin:	1926-03-12
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/evdc/id/8901
Collection:	Eugene V. Debs Correspondence
Subjects:	Prohibition Prohibitionists Famous Hoosiers Labor

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