Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-25
How 70 Fight Prohibition.

There has been In session at Chicago
within the last few days a convention OF
distillers and brewers, their object be-
ing 10 agree on plans for combating the
prOhi bition sentiment which Is becoming
alarming TO their interests. The liquor
and beer dealers IN nearly every city III
the country have organizations for the
same purpose, and these have received
much aid when they needed 1t from the
distillers and brewers, and they have
been industrious in season and out OF
season in denouncing prohibition and
fighting it in every manner they thought
possible.
1t seems difficult for those interested in
the liquor aud beer traffic TO open their
eyes 10 the fact that the prohibition move
ment, or rather the rapidly growing senti-
ment IN favor of prohibition-uot the
political movement under that name--is
not the outcome of fanaticism snd preju-
dice, but is the result OF deep conviction
of right and necessity for the preservation
Of society and the advancement OF civil
cation.
Had it not been for the abuses of the
liquor traffic, the debauchery that follows,
or rather goes with it everywhere, and
the disregard Of decency and contempt OF
law that have been shown by large pro-
portion Of those engaged in it, the prohi-
bition movement would most probably
never have gained any considerable vi
tallty.
1t will not be denied that there are
| many conscientious, right-minGed men
engaged in the liquor business, and that
they make heroic efforts to redeem it
| from the reproach into which it has fallen,
but 1t seems that they are not able to do
so, except in a few of the smaller cities
OF the Union. They realize that the days
of the traffic are numbered, unless there
can be inaugurated a radical reform in
the manner in which it is conducted in
most places.
It has come to the point in many sec-
tions of the Union that almost every law
loving citizen Is in favor of prohibition in
some shape or other. Even in Illinois,
the great whisky-producing State, there
| are seven counties in which absolute pro-
hibitIon prevails, and in twenty-seven
other counties the licenses have been
| placed SO high that 1t amounts practically
| to prohibition. 1t is said that In that
| State there are so many prohibition towns
that about two-thirds of the territory of
the State is under prohibition laws.
| During the last six years over 1000 sa-
| looms have been blotted out in Illinois,
and those still existing pay taxes amount
ing to nearly 50, 10000 year. while a few
years ago the taxes did not amount to
one-fOurth as much. There are plenty Of
other States that have made more de-
| cided progress towards prohibition than
| Illinois has, but 1t Is mentioned because
it has been noted as a stronghold of the
liquor interests.
There is one way, and one way only, in
which those interested in the liquor
traffic can stop the growth of the prohi-
bitiOn sentimenr-that is, by DOM bining to
do away with the evils growing out of the
business. If they will resolve to comply
in spirit as well as in letter with the laws
regulating the liquor traffic, the most glar-
ing of these abuses will at once disappear.
Let them keep orderly houses, refuse
to sell to minors or habltual drunkards,
obey the Sunday laws, and do away with
the gambling attachments, and they will
effect more than can be effected by the eX-
penditure of many thousands of dollars
in printing arguments and corruptng
voters and officials. The majority of the
liquor dealers should only blame them
selves for the spread of the prohibition
sentiment. One disreputable saloon does
more for prohibition than a dozen able
temperance orators could accomplish
without the example of such saloon to
enforce their arguments.
The only effective way to fight prohibit
ton is to reform the liquor business, and
place it permanently on the level Of law
abiding and respectable pursuits. If the
saloon keepers will not do this, 1T is only
question OF time when their occupation
will be gone in every part of the country