Today -100: January 30, 1919: Of prohibition, mysterious recruiters, recognizing Poland, and lost colonies

New York and Vermont are the 43rd and 44th states to ratify the already ratified prohibition amendment. Only two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, never will ratify. The New York Legislature’s vote is close. Some denounce prohibition as an idea of the Southern Democrats, “who are no more entitled to the name Democrat than the Bolsheviki.”

Rumor of the Day -100: Recruiters for an unknown foreign country (or countries), who might be Dutch but aren’t recruiting for the Netherlands, are said to have signed up hundreds of German sailors.

The US recognizes Poland. Which can use all the help it can get just now:

So the borders of the Poland that Wilson recognized are still very much up in the air.

Not literally up in the air, like “You have to be this tall to get into Poland.”

This complicates Poland’s appeals for help. The Allies are willing to supply them with weapons to kill Bolsheviks, but are worried they might be used against Czechs or Ukrainians. 

German newspapers are campaigning for the return of Germany’s colonies. 

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