Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-05-26

IneSe leb tNeIl NOndu SCb ~ AC"Sb Ons
new member and every Union make &
study of the subject of systematic
giving which is now one of our Ma
tional Departments under Mrs. Esther
T. Pritchard.
The first Legislature convened un-
der the new Constitution has met and
adopted a revised code which we
should diligently study in order to
find out wherein its laws favor our
work. The Mississippi w. c. 7. U.
was not greatly excited over the pro-
visions of the Dram-shop chapter, be-
cause neither high license nor low Ii
cense, but prohibition, is the goal OF
our hopes and the object of our efforts.
We know from study of the subject
that high license does not diminish
either drunkenness or crime and it
does not soothe a mothers anguish to
know that it was the allurement of
plate glass and marble; of mirrors,
pictures and electric lights that
wrought her boys downfall, and
brought him to home behind prison
bars. Nor are the wife's tears less
bitter for the knowledge that her
children's food and raiment have gone
to furnish palace dram-shop. What
seems to me the logic of the situation
was forcibly expressed by Hon. w. 5.
McAllister, a man who is not prohl-
bitionist, in his protest against the
passage of the dram-shop chapter of
the code, of which he says, sit is the
elimination of tyranny in that it le-
galizes business and then places it
under the ban of such restrictions as
render it practically impossible to en-
gage in it with impunity." So from
our different standpoints we reach a
similar conclusion. We cannot see
the use of all this elaborate and COM
plicated legislation to restrain and re-
strict, with a view to lessening the
evils of dram selling and drink
ing. If the thing is right, let it be
free as other business is if 1T be wrong
abolish it as our neighbors will their
licensed Lottery. And here in the
recent action of the citizens of Louis
lana is proof that if the Christian peo-
pie of Mississippi wanted prohibition
we would have it. While the evil in
fiuence of the Lottery is not so great
nor SO widespread as that of the Ii
quor traffic, they stand together as
moral issues and every argument
against one applies with equal force
to the other. Then, too, the moneyed
power of the Lottery is far greater in
our sister State than is that of the
liquor traffic in our own, and yet, be-
fore an aroused public sentiment
speaking from the ballot-box, this
giant has fallen and his days are mum
bered.
But to return to the subject. l an
not greatly in favor of the annoyance
policy, but the very fact that the code
contained such restrictions and Sh'
Legislature was able to pass sucl
laws. in spite of the strongest Opposi
ton of the rich and powerful liquor
factions, shows a sentiment agalns
the dram shop that is very cheering
albeit we cannot help wishing tina
this sentiment had crystalized int
prohibitory instead of Restrictive laws
Still, we should do all in our powe
to further the enforcement of thes
laws, hoping they may at least prov
| q foundation for that beautiful struct
ure of entire prohibition which shal
| finally rise in our fair State amid th'
glad hosannas of its redeemed people
AS you know, we have been try in:
| for years to secure for our children
the protection of the Scientific TEN
perance Instruction Bill. Gou ar
familiar with its history up to th'
present Legislature. After the de
parture of Mrs. Kell, who was Super
intendent of Legislation, requested
Miss Belle Kearney to go to jackson
to look after the interests of thi
measure. This she did, receiving
much courtesy and kindness from tn,
Legislature, but the bill having beer
vetoed once, and again defeated il
the last Legislature, its record wa
against it and by the advice and as
sistance of two of the revisers, it wal
| incorporated in the code as an amend
ment to the chapter on Education ant
passed.
We have i'm the new code as one o
the trophies of last years efforts an
other law for the protection of the
children, that prohibiting the sale o.
| tobacco in any form to all persons
under the age of eighteen years
This law will do much for the future
manhood of the State if it is executed
but who will see to it that its provis
ions are enforced if not the mother
hearts of the w. C. L. Ut BE watch
full, therefore, and let every infringe
ment be speedily punished. While
on the subject of tobacco let me sa,
that there is crusade in which wisl
you all to join me. 1t is in an appea
to the authorities of our railroads tina
those who chew tobacco may be sub
ijected to the same regulations and re
strictions as smokers, and that til,
i plaeards in the coaches may henc
forward read ssNo smoking nor chew
ing.n There is no argument for th
separation of smokers from the rest Q
the travelling public that does not ap
ply equally we'll to those who ehe'
tobacco. need not rehearse these al
guments to you who have SO recent
endured the horrors of trip in Mis-
sissippi which i, for one, am resolve
not to bear longer without protest.
1 AT the suggestion Of our Superin
tendent of Legislation another la
was placed in the code by the revisel
aud passed by the Legislature. 1t
49,, f..rb;Idsnsr sro m, III sfsx ooI tha 50