"And by disaster he means nothing
short of actual ruin,' said- John Tait,
of San FYanclpco, a member of the
Association Opposed to National Pro
hibition, who received the message
here. Mr. StoTf's message read:
"Within 15 days 400,000 tons of wine
grapes, valued at $12,900,000, will be
ready to be harvested. Unless relief
comes quickly and our 7O0 wine-makers
can orush this immense crop for
wine purposes 50,000 men, women
and children directly interested in the
wine industry of California will be
seriously affected.
"One hundred and seventy thousand
acres are devoted to wine grape vine
yards, and our S.0O0 wine grape grow
ers have spent millions in cash "outlay
by savings and by borrowed money in
this one season alone to bring the
vineyards up to the picking stage.
"Government agents in California
will verify the assertion that in every
grape growing community of this
state the vineyard 1st s have been
found to be among the most active
workers in their respective communi
ties in behalf of L:erty bonds, war
savings stamps and Red Cross work.
Thousands of their boys were either
at the front or ready to go to the
front in behalf of the great cause of
j iiut-i iy aim mycravy , anu il woum
spem a miscarriage of justice that
their parents should be reduced to a
state of bankruptcy after many of
these boys have made the supreme
sacrifice."
"For 50 years." said Mr. Taft, "Cal
ifornia has been growing wine grapes
on land v.-'.iich for the most part i3
totally useless for any other form of
cultivation."
After stating that national prohibi
tion was making California dry
against Its will, as demonstrated by
a wet majority of 47,000 last No
vember, Mr. Taft. eontinup.
