The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-02-09
A SOCDOLAGER.
Practical Results of Coercive Temperance
in Columbia. Missouri

PRACTICAL Results of Coercive Temperance
in Columbia. Missouri.
IL is not necessary for Missouri to go to
Kansas to ascertain the practical results of
prohibition. She has forcible illustration
within her own borders. In the year ISIS
there was enacted law prohibiting the sale
OF Intoxicating liquors in less quantities
than one gallon within three miles of the
state university. 1t has been upon the
statute books since-a period Of eight wears
The people OF Columbia and Boone county
have therefore had ample opportunity TO
observe and study the workings of prohibi-
ton. Original y enacted at the instance
ana with the sanction of a majority of the
community, VINO honestly believed il TO be
movement tending to promote morality
and temperance, and to protect from temp.
tation the hundreds of young men attend
ing the university, the officers of the law,
men exceptionally determined and cour-
ageous, hove had the continued moral sup
port OF the community in their repeated eff
forts To- enforce it. 1t is rare indeed, we
presuiue, that prohibitory liquor law has
been more strongly sustained by COM
munlty, or thst officials more thoroughly
disposed to execute it have been kept con-
tinually in office.
What has been the RESULT A humiliat.
ing and absolute failure. Whisky drinking
and whisky selling have gone on Just the
same-not in one or two places, but in
probably dozen. We see 1t stated that
during the year Just closed $50 barrels OF
whisky and 1000 kegs of beer were received
ut the Columbia depot. Truly magnif-
cent showing for temperance towul
Eighteen thousand gallons of whisky and
1900 gallons of beer consumed in a town
of 4 OOO Inhabitants in one year. What a
tribdte to the protection afforded by pro-
hibition!
But the worst feature does not consist in
the amount Of liquor drank. The wholesale
violation of law, the perjury, the inability
OF the courts to convict and the general de-
moralization to the community are still
greater causes for mortiiicatios. Ask any
man who ever served on Boone county
grand-jury. The amount of perjury before
that body, If all reports be true, is simply
enormous. 1t is unfortunately true that Il
is rare occurrence that a man will, on his
OATH testify TO that which will convict the
person who sold him the liquor. He viii
esteem his word to the liquor seller above
his oath. The result is that the revenue.
from convictions are tfiiling, while
the humiliation and decentralization
|
ton OF law and disregard of The
satellites OF an oath far surpass any result
accomplished i'll the direction of temper
anCe.
Every few months our town authorities
raid the violators and secure lew cOnvic
tons, which result sometimes in the partie.
going TO jail to be boarded at public ex
pense, or in the imposition of fine, prob
ably half OF which goes to the expense o
conyicting. During the past year the town
officials nave been more successful thar
ever before in CONVICTIONS, but the revenue
to thetown has scarcely been sufficient to
pay for the effort in securing it.
And while all this is true whisky drinking
has gone on just the same. There is not d
day nor an hour, nor has there been fol
years, that whisky has mot been sold and
drank in Columbia-not at one place, but
at half dozen. At least such is the candid
belief OF every citizen.
But We hear it said; The three-mile law
is a protection to the State university in
that it prohibits saloons where students
can get liquor. We emphatically deny it,
1t is positive disadvantage and injury. Ii
shuts the front doors of one or two heavily
| licensed, well regulated and responsible
saloons and opens the back doors of n halt
dozen or dozen other establishments that
I W,
whore young men buy liquor, both by the
drink and by the quantity and from par.
ties who can in no way be held responsible
Tor the reason that they cannot be de-
| tec'ed.
I A responsible saloon-keeper under heavy
| bond can be neld TO strict liability by the
president oil the university for selling liquor
to students while at the same time he
would be the most efficient possible detect.
! i've 10 prevent others without license from
| selling.
More than this, with one or two we'll
| licensed saloons Columbia would be re-
! ceivjng an ANNA! revenue OF probably 81,
| UO0-enough 10 decrease our taxes nearly
One-hnlf, while we would be spared thecon
| slant worry and expense incident to fruit
less effort 70 enforce an impraCtica0'e law.
| With u decrease OF taxes would come Il
| growth III our population ana business, a
something sadly needed, for retrospect OF
several years past viii show that Columbia
has not made the material progress which
she should have made, or which has charac.
terlzod towns OF less advantages in this sec
| ton OF the state.
N plain words we believe that the cause
oil temperance, morality and virtue, the EN-
forcement OF OF law and the material pros
petity Ot our community Will be subserved
Uy II repeal Of the three.mile Law, and we
believe that majority Of the business
men, OF the property-owners, and all who
are most deeply concerned in the substan.
tial welfare OF our town believe with us.
However beautiful prohibition may be in
theory, it is failure in practice. We have
tried it and it has been found wanting. We
are opposed to the further continuance OF
an impracticable experiment at the expense
otthe real good and prosperity OF our com.
munity ,-[Columbia MO- Herald.