The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-24
MIR. PowDERLY ON TEMPERANCE.

Mr.. Powderly, General Master Workman
of the Knights of Labor, is strongly in favor
of the prohibition amendment to the Penn
sylvania Constitution. In recent interview
with q representative of the Pittsburg Dis
patch, Mr. Powderly is reported as saying:
II am in favor of the adoption of this con-
stitutional amendment for the reason that
the experience of a lifetime has demonstrated
that drunkenness is curse. 1t is the cause
of more poverty than anything else that can
be named. 1t is alleged that poverty is the
cause of drunkenness. That to a certain is
true. But remove the opportunity to become
a drunkard, and poverty can go no further
in the direction of lowering the family and
bringing more poverty to the innocent ones
dependent on the parent. 1t is claimed that
we have no right to interfere with the per-
sonal liberty of our neighbor. That is true,
but it is also true that our neighbor has no
right to interfere with ours For the one
man whose liberties will be tampered with
through prohibition, five others will be more
secure in their liberties. 1t is also urged
that the adoption of this amendment will
throw vast numbers of people out Of employ
ment and those who are now in the liquor
business will be deprived of their means Of
earning livelihood. grant that it may en-
tail hardships for such persons; but those
who are in the liquor traffic are conversant
with the laws of business and should under
stand how it can all be readjusted.
1.-The thought does not strike those who
sympathize so deeply with the liquor dealer
that no invention is made with machinery
that does not throw thousands of workmen
out of regular employment and force them
to pick up new pursuits. The hardships they
have to endure are greater than those which
may fall to the lot of the liquor seller for the
latter class of men are better off in the pos
session of this worlds goods than the me-
chanic who is displaced by labor saving ma
chinery.
Il do not think that the adoption of this
amendment will interfere in any way with
taxes; and if does lessen revenues although
a poor man, 1 am willing to pay tax to sup
port in idleneSs the man who now diSpenSes
this hellish stuff, rather than tax the strength
and brain of this State as it is now taxed by
the rumseler. The taxes in our large cities
to maintain police discipline will be ma
terially lessened and in the country districts
I don't see how it will make any difference to
the farmer. 1t will better his prospects in
stead; for where man now spends money
for a drink Of water with bad whisky mixed
in it, he can save his money to buy more
grain, and get the water for nothing.
''Some men say to me: Whatever the
Lord has put in this world is for use. Here
is liquor. Isn't it to be used9 Yes and the
Lord put iron ore in these mountains, but he
never intended that it should be made into
jimmies and burglars tools. If men will not
listen to advice and reason, if their appetites
have become so depraved as to lead the
brain, then the temptation should be re-
moved; and there is no more effective way of
doing this than through absolute prohibition.
If man is known to have mania for sui
eide the law will prohibit him from taking
his life i'll so sudden manner; and I see no
reason why we should not establish a law
which will prohibit man from not only
taking his own life by slow degrees, but ruin
ing the hopes of salvation hereafter, and the
temporal happiness Of wife and children. And
now that the question has come before the
people of Pennsylvania shall vote for pro-
hibitionn