538 SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



That is, the amount of these three grains used to make 

 alcohol would supply enough food to keep 76,000,000 people 

 from starvation for one hundred days, or this would be 

 enough to keep the people of the United States from starva- 

 tion for more than two months. The population of England 

 could subsist on these food supplies for nearly six months, 

 or the population of France for nearly seven months. 



Prohibition as a war measure. On account of the fact that 

 alcoholic drinks were interfering with the work of the gov- 

 ernment in winning the war, laws were passed by Congress 

 to limit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors. 

 During the summer of 1918, Congress passed a law forbid- 

 ding the use of any foodstuffs in the manufacture of distilled 

 liquors, such as whisky and rum. In 1918, Congress passed 

 a national prohibition bill as a war measure. Manufacture 

 of fermented liquors, such as beer and wine, was forbidden 

 after April 30, 1919 ; and the sale of any intoxicating liquors 

 after June 30. This was to remain in effect till the troops 

 were demobilized. By a special proclamation of President 

 Wilson the manufacture of beer was prohibited after 

 November 30, 1918. 



Prohibition amendment to constitution. Before the war 

 began, there was a movement well under way to make this 

 country dry through an amendment to the constitution. 

 During the summer of 1917 the United States Senate and 

 House of Representatives passed, by the necessary two thirds 

 vote, a proposed amendment prohibiting the manufacture, 

 sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage 

 purposes. By March, 1919, this amendment had been rati- 

 fied by 45 states, 9 more than the necessary three fourths. 

 The thirty-sixth state ratified the amendment on January 

 1 6, 1919, so that in accordance with the provisions of the 

 proposed amendment it will go into effect one year from 

 that day. 



It is worth while to understand why this amendment has 



