Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-11-02
THE AMENDMENT LEAGUE COLUMN
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
'4G. The manufacture, sale and
keeping for sale. of all intoxicating
liquors, drinks, mixtures and prepara-
tions. except as hereinafter provided,
are forever prohibited within this
State: and the Legislature shall, with
out delay, provide by appropriate
legislation for the strict enforcement
of this provision. But the Legislature
may provide by law for the manuiac-
ture, sale and keeping for sale, OF
alcohol and preparations thereof, for
scientific, mechanical and medicinal
purposes, and Of wine for sacramental
purposes, under sufficient penalties
and securities to insure the due eXecu-
ton Of such laws as may be enacted
under this section
How would this be better than the
provision now in force, first above
given?
1t would be better morally. The
Liquor Traffic is a gigantic evil, the
source Of three-fourths Of all the
crime, nine-tenths Of the pauperism,
and one-half the insanity Of the coun-
try. The whole business il an abOm-
Unable sin. The people are degraded
when the Constitution-the peoples
fundamental law-recognizes the
right Of such a traffic TO exist.
Ii would be better financially. IL
would stop the waste Of the $1,000, 900
paid into the saloons every year.
There would be far less Of pauperism
to support, of insanity TO provide for,
and Of crime TO punish, and thus
would taxation be lessened immensely.
1t would be better az "A matter Of
policy. The present Constitution rec
ognizes the right Of the traffic, and
leaves its existence optional with the
Legislature. This is dangerous
power. Any Legislature may make
il lawful TO sell liquor in any cornmu-
nifty, without regard to the public
sentiment OF the locality The no
license counties might be deprived Of
their power 10 keep out saloons. Let
us beware! The Liquor power wields
an immense influence.
The proposed Amendment will make
it impossible for the avarice Of one
class OF citizens, responding TO the
appetite Of another class, TO fasten
upon the entire State business that
destroys public order, public health
and public decency, business that
by confession il the prolific source Of
poverty. crime. disease and death.
viii it infringe upon the reserved
personal rights Of the people?
Answer. Certainly not. 1t II aimed
at the traflic-not at personal habit.
You may have lawful right to eat
spoiled meat, but you have no right
TO sell it 10 others. You may yOlun-
tarily get the smallpox, il you like,
but the law won't allow you 70 spread
il abroad. The object is not 10 in
fringe upon any personal right, but
to suppress a great public evil. 1t is
to guard rights, and to protect the
health and morals Of the people.
This il very important: Let every
lover Of Peace, Law, and Order, Pure
Government and the General Good OF
Society, no matter what party ticket
he may vote, see to it before his ticket
goes into the Ballot Box, that it has
on it the words, 'Prohibition-Con-
stitutional Amendment, Section 46,
Article VI-For Ratification" And
see that the words For Ratification"
Immediately follow the words "prohi-
Observation-Disclosures Amendment" +"
and that the words For Rejection
be erased, if found there. As there
will be three Amendments On the same
ticket. voters will need be very care
! full to avoid mistakes.