High Explosion

The 65th Congress in 1917 set forth a modest proposal for prohibiting the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes. The proposal was subsequently adopted as a part of the U. S. Constitution. But it is doubtful whether members of the 65th Congress would have recognized their proposal as explained last week by Hudson Maxim before the Free Thinkers Society of New York.

Dr. Maxim, now in his 71st year, who invented Maximite, Stabillite, Motorite, the U. S. variety of smokeless powder and many other explosive marvels, turned his inventive genius upon the 18th Amendment, and arrived at the conclusion that Prohibition Commissioner Roy Asa Haynes should bring suit against hotels and restaurants that sell coffee and tea. Said he: "I have consulted some of the most eminent legal authorities in the country and I speak with their authority when I tell you that if all manner of alcoholic liquors were served at this dinner the provisions of the 18th Amendment would not be violated or disrespected one whit more than they are violated here tonight in serving us coffee. The beverage use of intoxicating liquors is definitely, broadly and sweepingly prohibited, absolutely regardless of the kind of intoxicating liquor, whether alcoholic or narcotic, and absolutely regardless of the degree of concentration, so long as it may be taken as a beverage in sufficient quantity to act as an intoxicant, according to the generally accepted meaning of the word intoxicate, which is the meaning given in the dictionaries."*

*Webster's New International Dictionary says: "Intoxicate--to excite or to stupefy by strong drink or by a narcotic substance."