The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-15
Practical Results Of CoercIye TEN.
pefance In Columbia, Missouri.
TIcolumbia, Missouri, Herald.

tColumbia, Missouri, Herald
1t Is not necessary for Missouri to
go IL Kansas to ascertain the prac-
teal RESULTS of prohibition. She has
forcibH Illustration within her own
borders. In the year 1875 there was
enacted a law prohibiting the sale OF 1
intoxicating liquors in less quantities
imam one gallon within three miles Of
the state university. IL has been upon
Ine statute books since--a period of
elght years. The people of Columbia
anu Boone county have therefore
lau ample opportunity To observe and
stuuy the workings of prohibition.
originally enacted at the instance and
win the sanction Of a majority of the
community, who honestly believed IL
10 DE movement tending 10 promote
morality and temperance, and. pro-
tect from temptation the hurfe3l n of
young men attending the university.
the officers of the law, men excep-
tionally determined and courageous.
have had the continued moral support
of the community in their repeated
efforts to enforce IL. IL Is rare in
deed, we presume, that prohibitory
liquor law has been more stringently
sustained by community, or that
officials more thoroughly disposed 10
execute ii have been kept continual
in Office.
What has been the result? A hi
initiating and absolute failure. Whis-
ky drinking and whisky selling have
gone on Just the same-not n one nr
two places, but in probably dozen.
We see it stated that during the year
just closed $50 barrels of whisky and
5000 kegs of beer were received at the
Columbia depot Truly magnifi-
cent showing for temperance town!
Eighteen thousand gallons of whisky
and 2o,OO gallons of beer consumed
III town of 1900 inhabitants in one
year. What Il tribute TO the protec-
ton afforded by prohibition!
but the worst feature does not con-
slst in the amount of liquor drank.
The wholesale violation Of law, the
perjury, the inability of the courts to
convict, and the general demoraliza-
ton to the community are still greater
causes for modification. As 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 unfortu-
nately true that it is "a rare occurrence
that man will. on his oath, testify to
that which will convict the person
who sold him the liquor. lie will es-
TEEN his word b. the liquor-seller
| above his oath. The result is that the
revenues from convictions are trifiing,
while the humiliation and demorali-
cation to society from such fragrant
violation of law and disregard
of the sanctities of an oath far
surpass any result accomplished
In the direction of temperance.
Every few months our town author
tiles raid the viOlators and secure a
few convictions, which result some
times in the parties going to jail 10 be
boarded at public expense. or In the
imposition OF u fine. probably half of
which goes TO the expense of convict
ing. During the past year the town
officials have been more successful
than ever before in conYictiOnE, but
the revenue To the town has scarcely
been sufficient To pay for the effort In
securing il.
And while all this Is true, whisky
drinking has gone on just the same.
There Is not day nor an hour, nor
has there been for years, that whisky
has not been sold and drank in Column
Dia-not ut one place. but at half a
dozen. AT least such Is the candid
belief of every citizen.
But we hear IL said: The three
mile law Is protection 10 the state
university in that IL prohibits saloons
where students can get liquor. We
emphatically deny it. II Is a positive
disadvantage and injury. 1t shuts
the front doors of one or two heavily
licensed, well regulated and response
bic saloons and opens the back doors
Of Il half dozen or dozen other estab-
lishments that are hidden from the
officers Of the law, and where young
men buy liquor, both by the drink and
by the quantity, and from parties who
can in no way he held responsible, for
the reason that they cannot be de-
tected.
A responsible saloon-keeper under
heavy bond can he held 10 strict liza
bility 10y the president of the univers-
ity for selling liquor TO students.
while at the same time he would bee
the most efficient possible detective
To prevent others without licenseh
from selling.
More than this, with one or two
well licensed saloons Columbia would
he receiving an annual revenu~
probably $3OO0-enough TO decrease
our taxes nearly one-half, while we
would he spared the constant worry
and expense incident TO fruitless
effort to enforce an impracticable
law.
With decrease of taxes would come
Il growth in our population and bust |
ness, Il something sadly needed, for a
retrospect of several years past will
show that Columbia has not made thu
material progress which has charac-
teriZed towns of less advantages In
this section of the state.
In plain words, we believe that the
cause Of temperance, morality and
virtue, the enforcement of law and
the material prosperity of our com
munity will be subserved by a repeaI
of the three-mile law, ard we believe
that Il majority of the business men,
of the property-owners, and all who
are most deeply concerned in the sub
stantial welfare of our town believe
with us. However beautiful prohi-
bition may be in theory, it Is failure
in practice. We have tried il, and IL
has been found wanting. We are OPP
posed to the further continuance Of
an impracticable experiment ut the
expense of the real good and prosper
ity OF our own community.