West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-02-23
A Temperance County.
From "A Plea for Prohibitions" by Pres. A.
q. Haygood ID. ID.

q. Haygood u. ID.
No county in Georgia had more still-houses
and bar-rooms To the number of inhabitants
than Carroll, twenty years ago. Drinking
places We're not only 10 be found in the little
towns: but also AT the crossroads and country
places throughout the county. No more UNI
favorable place for the success of prohibition
could have been selected than this county,
1t was settled by class of citizens who re-
gardcd plenty OF corn whisky and peach
brandy essential to good living. Liquor was
sold without scruple and drank without stint.
Many of the people spent NIL their means, bo-
yond bare living, for strong drink. Ednt-
cation and churches were neglected. lgnor-
ance and vice prevailed to such an alarming
extent that the very name of the county be-
came by word and rcproach in the state.
1t was called the Free state of Carroll" Tho
better citizens, going from the county, were
ashamed to acknowledge whore they We're
from. The County OF Carroll was once syno-
nymous with still-houses, cliicken-i fighting,
horse-swapping, pony clubs, one-ox carts,
poverty pincy woods and ignorance.
The first move toward prohibition in this
county was made at Bowdon. In the very
act by which the town was Incorporated wns
II clause prohibiting the sale of whisky in so
many miles of the place,
In 1863 d. W. w. Fits moved 10 Carrolltou,
the county seat, aud began ut Gnco the nbol-
ishing of the whisky traffic by law. He stood
well nigh alone for several years. With an
energy that never tired and n determinatio
that never taltcred, he worked on. He was
foilcd frequently by the liquor men but ne
never gave up the struggle, other men moved
into the town, and united their influence
with his They managed the prohibition
movement with great prudence nnd tact.
They did not organize for one election or ono
year. After an election, nj which they were
defeated by the liquor men, they did not
abandon their hopes; but began again to
work for another election BY keeping or
ganized all the time, they conserved their
forces; and, though they did not succeed FOR
several years, they were all the time educai-
ing public opinion. Thus they prepared 70
hold the field when they won II.
In Carrolton the temperance men worked
twelve years without success. In 1873 bin
was passed by the legislature prohibiting the
sale of liquor in tile town.
In spite OF all opposition and abuse, the
temperance men succeeded, and wirh results
that are marvellous.
i. The trade of the town has been more tnan
doubled. Before the liquor traffic was abolish
ca lile lfiuc pl inc pHlct was HtiDuL 9ZUU,UUW u
year; now il is 100000 year. There are
thirty stores in town, and do not know of %
single merchant among them who would not
vote against the liquor traffic, on purely bus
mess grounds. Mr.. John w. Stewart, who
has made n fortune here, says, as II business
man, that he would not have liquor back for
any consideration. Some of our leading
merchants were opposed to prohibition at
first, because they feared it would iniure their
trade. They are unanimously in favor Of IL
now. The $4,000 that was spent here for
whisky prior to 1873 Is now spent in building
houses, improving stock, draining lands and
paying taxes. The farmers are nearly all
out of debt. Many Of the men who were
spending all their money for whisky have
quit drinking and are making n support for
their families
2. The argument that men would DRINK
anyhow does not hold good but with few.
Perhaps there are in every town some few
men who have drunk so long that they are
slaves to the habit. Such men woul3 send
off and get whisky and drink anyhow. But
we have learned that, with nearly all the peo-
pie, whisky is like waterinelons-the supply
creates the demand. DO away with the sup
ply, and there will be no demand as % gen
eral thing. By prohibiting the safe of whisky
in the towns of Georgia we will soon have
generation of young men who will have no
desire for it whatever.
3. We have two drug stores here: but not a
particle Of whisky is sold in either one OF
thom. The leading druggist here told me
that he kept alcohol in the store; but he used
it only for tinctures. An attempt was made
by one of the druggists to sell 5itters; but the
grand jury soon found many true bills
1t