The Wickershambles that led to the end of Prohibition

[Metro Jacksonville]

The "Wickershambles" that led to the end of Prohibition



George Woodward Wickersham.   Attorney General under President Taft led the commission whose report, infamously called by teetotallers everywhere as the "Wickersham Report" spelled out the death knell for Prohibition.

Arrayed against the anti Prohibition Wickersham was half of the nations popular press, including Time Magazine and a virtual nation of Women's Temperance Union tee totallers absolutely committed to the goal of arresting every person who ever took an alcoholic sip of anything, for any reason.

The following story is a reprint of the disapproving coverage of the Wickersham Commission by a florid Time Magazine reporter, complete with the kind of spice and invective that one never sees in print today (but always sees on blogs) that makes the story lively and worth reading.

It bears noting that Attorney General Wickersham's great grandson is a frequent poster on the metrojacksonville blogs, Chris Wickersham.   As you shall see, nothing has changed in almost a hundred years, complete with angry older women, cries of "Imbeciles!" and chairs being thrown at public meetings.

Except apparently that the older women may have dramatically changed their minds about the recreational benefits of alcohol.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-the-wickershambles-that-led-to-the-end-of-prohibition

[BridgeTroll]

Dr Seuss... Political cartoonist... I love it!

[Bill Ectric]

Great artcle! I enjoyed reading this very much. Now it's time for hemp reform.

[Burn to Shine]

Great artcle! I enjoyed reading this very much. Now it's time for hemp reform.

Not saying I disagree, but I find a hard time believing that's gonna happen anytime soon.  The Prez just got done banning us from flavored tobacco for God's sake and taxing tanning beds on top of that.  I don't see him branching out into freeing the herb although there are a few tight arse's in Washington that could use a toke or two.

[ChriswUfGator]

I think it's hilarious, that 100 years later, the behavior and tactics of marauding groups of self-righteous people really haven't changed any. It's actually quite formulaic. The seizing upon any platform that is likely to shock others into agreeing with them, the stirring up of mock horror and indignation, the attempts of this self-annointed tail to wag the dog, and then the inevitable temper tantrums when they don't get their way and realize nobody really agreed with them in the first place.

Truly a case study in that, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Ocklawaha]

I'm not a pot smoker (i prefer stimulants like coffee ginseng and arguing with right wing jawbones) but Im no opponent of it either.  Its clearly healthier than modern day tobacco.

Oh shit! Now that the beautiful blooms have fallen off, some mysterious creature has pierced the sides of my poppy pods and they are leaking a dark tar like substance.

Damn the luck.

Guess I'm holding out for Caterpillar liberation...

OCKLAWAHA