The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
PUT DRUNKARDS IN JAN.
DR.. Parker has Prepared Bill to be
Presented TO the Legislature.
Richmond, Nov. %, 1893

Richmond, Nov. %, 1893.
Mr.. Editor,-I have long been contem-
plating the effort to get the Legislature
10 pass some law for the suppression OF
drunkenness OF a more positive kind
than that now on the Statute Book but
postponed it hoping some one better quar-
lied would do so. In 1912, l became a
'tstotaler," and was in good standing in
the order till the war broke up all the
societies l was once an officer in an in
eorporated Inebriate Asylum, but II failed
for want of funds When Prohibition was
started, / had great hopes that 1t would
accomplish the ends contemplated by It's
authors, but l soon found that this was
not the remedy. Few men in the state
have seen more of the evils OF intemper-
anee than / have. Hardly a day mas
passed ia forty-five years that have
net seen its terrible ravages, in broken
health and fortune. l wish l could give
you a photograph of d drunken woman 5
chamber l visited last week As j said
Ia The Times, few weeks ago, the big
Eest fool IA the world Is the drunkard-
In enemy TO mis- own health. peace. pros
berity, respectability and safety for this
world ana the next He often incurs the
tess OF reason itself, resulting III diaboileal
murders and all manner of wickedness.
The much-abused bar-ketper himself is
opposed 10 drunkenness, FOR the sot Will
soon be pennieSs, ana his presence at
the bar, a nuisance The drunkard is the
man we have to deal with. lie is the dan
gerous man TO society: he is the murderer
the dispoiler OF wife. children and home;
he IL the sinner; let us deal with him,
and net attack his temptor or temptation
only. God DID not cut down he tree
Of good and evil in the garden, but said
skhou shalt not eat OF IL lest thou die. ."
30 say we. We can't stop the use OF al
eohel. II Is indispensable In sickness and
IN the arts. There could be no paregoric
laudanum, chloroform and "a hundred 9TH
er valuable medicines without II. Men who
Will indulge 10 excess in rum must be
punished and then they will learn TO obey
have known the Jail to cure thoroughly.
" the offender be sent there ere the habit
70 fixed
A man who sits alone in common jail
for thirty days. has time 10 consider. II
there Is any sense and any self-respect
left In him. he viii conclude: II am going
v the dogs and the devil, and must re-
pant But. Mr.. Editor, / had no idea
VI writing so nue.. l desire simply 10
call attention of all the friends OF tenn
psrance ana good order 10 the act, which
4 shall present to the next Legislature
II may have many defects. This is the
second 'act" ! have ever drawn, and is
Of course, imperfect. hope TO see Il
amended before II goes before the Legis~
tAture. and VIII gladly adopt any sug-
gestion TO this end. IL I can concentrate
AL the zeal OF my friends among the
Prohibitionist and Church people in behalf
81 this law II Will probably pass the
legislature and In five years thereafter
crime and poverty would be greatly 81.
mtnished In this good old Commonwealth
or this l have not tho shadow OF a
doubt II the EVIL is not finally cured by
u the public will be educated 10 more
etr3ngenf measures. II we can't reach per-
- SUCCESS we may minimize the evil
eems win say the jail 10 terrible reme-