Volume 2: The crown and the hat are all over the capital, and the spirit is full of energy and enter the foggy city Chapter 74: Early Betting (Part 2)
This chapter's subtitle: Master Yuan shines
In fact, the American people can no longer hold back, otherwise how could the gangs and BOI become so powerful?
One of the great effects of Prohibition was the rapid growth of a variety of vibrant social groups across the United States.
In order to combat these interstate alcohol trafficking gangs, state governments had to seek help from the federal government, so federal law enforcement powers were greatly expanded and strengthened in the 1920s. The federal law enforcement agency BOI benefited the most.
So, Prohibition created "Mr. Hermit" and made Mr. Hoover the most powerful man in American history...well, a gay.
Our Master Yuan sighed and said slowly: "Mr. Roosevelt, do you really think that this law that goes against human nature can continue?"
Humanity, oh human nature. Don't just say that you American leaders are incapable of this. Even we in Seris...
"Pika Pika."
FDR frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Mr. Yuan, I understand what you mean. But..."
He shook his head and said with difficulty: "I think you should also know that supporting prohibition is now the mainstream public opinion."
In fact, the forces supporting Prohibition in America can be divided into three categories.
The first category is religious people, of course, the so-called religious people are the radical Protestants in WASP. The YMCA mentioned above is also one of the forces.
As early as the 1870s, they launched a social movement called "Social Gospel". In addition to prohibition of alcohol, they also banned bad books, such as Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", and they were particularly opposed to contraception and abortion. Yes, the WASPs who lived a good life at that time also encountered the problem of a rapid decline in fertility.
However, we cannot say that these people are completely reactionary and not progressive at all. For example, due to their efforts, in 1910, the US Congress enacted a law to raise the age of legal sexual conduct for women from 10 to 18 (later lowered to 16).
I don’t know whether Iron Fist knows about this law.
The second category is feminists. The largest women's organization in the United States at that time was called the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU ), and it was these women who pushed prohibition to its peak. These lesbians believed that men's alcoholism would lead to domestic violence and reduce the family's living standards.
One of the most famous women was Carrie Nation from Kansas, nicknamed "Axe Carrie". She would often run into bars with an axe in one hand and a Bible in the other, stand in front of the bar and sing hymns. If the bar owner refused to "voluntarily" close the bar, "Axe Carrie" would use the axe she brought with her.
Like our Master Yuan, she always brings along reporters and lawyers when she smashes a store. Oh, and she also signs the axes she uses and sells them to her fans.
The starting point of the third group of people was economic factors. At that time, almost all small and medium-sized business owners strongly supported prohibition of alcohol.
On the one hand, it is obvious that workers who drink alcohol will affect productivity and cause work-related accidents.
Although the government and the law at the time were on the side of the employers, they believed that the employment contract of the workers was actually a life-and-death contract, so the employers were not responsible for industrial accidents. There is a famous case - Loncher VS New York. However, this also made the employers bear a heavy social and moral responsibility, which meant that they were often criticized.
On the other hand, prices soared after World War I, and business owners naturally felt the pressure to raise wages.
So they came up with a theory that workers' wages were not low, but they spent their wages on the wrong things, especially alcohol. As long as alcohol was banned, they would not have to raise their wages.
In short, the supporters of Prohibition in the United States are religious people, social activists and economic voters, who are the ones who can most influence the direction of votes.
So Roosevelt was right, they really were the mainstream public opinion.
"Mainstream public opinion...hahaha..."
Yuan Yan suddenly stopped laughing and put on an expert look and said, "Well, let me, as an economist and an outsider, tell you about my research experience in America over the past few years."
If you want to be someone's staff member or think tank, you have to show some real abilities.
"Mr. Roosevelt, you should know that America has now completed the first stage of urbanization."
“According to my research and calculations, the urban population in the manufacturing belt centered on the Great Lakes, that is, the Northeast and Midwest, had increased from 20% in 1860 to 50% in 1920.”
"At the same time, the transportation revolution has further expanded the scope of urbanization. After the railway and highway networks were built in the east, west, south and north of the United States, the development speed of the west coast was changing with each passing day, and the traditional agricultural areas in the south also entered the urbanization stage."
"In short, more and more people will move into cities, and more and more industrial activities will be carried out in cities."
Master Yuan asked, "Mr. Roosevelt, do you know what this means to you politicians?"
FDR's expression turned serious when he heard this. He blurted out, "I understand that this means a change in the voter structure."
"clatter!"
Yuan Yan snapped her fingers and said, "BINGO! It's the change in the voter structure."
"Mr. Roosevelt, in the foreseeable future, there will be fewer and fewer country bumpkins who bow down to the pastors, and more and more working people who indulge in urban life."
"Do you think that in ten years, the new voters who grew up in cities will still cling to the American Puritan ideas?"
"Like you said, if the Democrats can't win the next one or two presidential elections, then just give up. Why don't you place your bets twelve years later, on the next generation of voters?"
Our Master Yuan said earnestly: "Mr. Roosevelt, if you want to gamble, you might as well gamble big. Instead of being vague on Prohibition, you might as well stand on the side against Prohibition thoroughly."
Silence. FDR fell into silence. He lowered his head without saying a word and hid his face in the shadows.
Silence, Yuan Yanshu was not in a hurry to break the silence. He turned his head and looked out the window without saying a word. The sun on March 6, 1921 was about to set, and the last ray of afterglow shone on his handsome face...
So our Master Yuan shines.
"The world has only noticed Mr. Yuan Yanshu's amazing achievements in literature, art and economics, but often overlooked his extraordinary talent in politics. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State in the FDR administration, once said that if Neo was an American, he would be more suitable for this position than me. And if Neo became Secretary of State, he might really be able to prevent World War II from happening..."
——Excerpt from "Master Yuan in World War II"
