Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-06-12
PRoHIBITION VS.. LICENSE.

To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
Prohibition is objected to:
/. Because it interferes with personal
liberty. But 5 do the laws prohibit
ing fast driving on rtain streets, the
building of wooden houses in cities,
the selling of liquor on Sunday or after
certain hours, etc.
> Because it tries to make men NOR
al by law. But only SO far as other
laws do In prohibiting theft, perjury.
RIGHTEOUSNESS, etc.
8. Because it tends to make men
hypocrites and deceitful. But i'm the
same way do the laws prohibiting
counterfiting, smuggling, forgery, etc.
4. Because 1t does not prohibit. But
neither do the laws against murder,
arson, robbery, etc.
). Because it is a sumptuary law.
But no more so than the laws prohib-
iting the sale of diseased meat, the
selling liquor to minors and drunkards,
the wearing of apparel of the other sex,
ETC. The object In prohibiting the
LIQUOR traffic is the same as thatin pro-
hibiting the other offences. namely,
protection of individual rights and the
promotion of the general welfare.
License is urged instead of prohibit
ton:
l. Because there is much drinking in
spite of prohibition. But there is con-
siderable crime of other kinds in spite
of the law prohibiting it.
>. Because it would increase the rev.
enue. But so would a license to COM
init other crimes.
3. Because it makes the traffic more
respectable. But license would also
make other crimes more respectable.
Yet, what a way of doing business to
make respectable what ought to be
more detesta BILE, and make the road to
misery and ruin attractive instead of
replIsive!
4. Because it would (if high lessen
the number of saloons and the amount
of liquor consumed. But if criminals
had to pay license fee (high) it would
lessen the number of criminals and
amount of crime.
If these reasons for licensing the
liquor beverage traffic are not enough
to justify licensing other crimesl are
they. enough to justify licensing that
traffic? The revenue from: license
(high) is power against prohibition,
and the corruptirg effect of the
license principle upon the people
and it's help to the traffic makes
any license a hindrance TO getting pro-
hibition. The charge that prohibition
cannot be obtained and enforced i'm
plies that there is not and cannot be
developed i'm the nation enough patriot
ism, intelligence, conscience and ener-
gy to do what is for its own good and
what duty requires-an insinuation
that our Government is a failure,
through the inability or shiftlessness
of the people to enact and enforce good
and proper laws necessary for their
safety and well-being. That license
lessons the number of saloons is very
doubtful, aid that it does not lessen
drinking seems thoroughly established
by testimony and statistics. The
friends of prohibition do not oppose
license because it does not suppress all
the saloons at once, because it does not
give them a whole loaf, but because it
helps to perpetuate the traffic, and TO
license is to share in the guilt of the |
traffic Prohihitionists will work for a |
measure reducing the number of sa-
looms and the amount of liquor drunk, |
if it does not strengthen or consent to |
those remaining.
THOMAS j. POWELL.
Naples, n. Y.