Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-27

nNpNitnNhs anu Inlleu. Maine has triet
II and failed. Kansas Ia a standinl
monument TO the utter futility OF Try,
ing 70 mike men temperate by ths
working OF statute
why can't one nalf OF the world lei
the other half alonef
Back and behind all this agitation 1,
,he great truth that In every human
heart IL treasured the right 10 thirl
and act for Itself untrammelied by re-.
uaint so long as the personal liberty
and rights OF another IN not Invaded
All the dogmas. crecds or superrtitiona
ever marshalled cannot tarnish This
great truth. The prohlblilonists start
at the wrong end, for until you teach
the people that whisky selling Is wrong
and that drinking whisky Is sinful and
| injurious the boy that done drink in
| the saloon Will drink In the private
clubhouse or drug store. am not one
OF those pesslmistic puritans who be-
ilcNe the world Is going to the devil
IN down hill trot on account OF in
temperance. believe the civilization
of this century Ii far ahead OF that OF
| ITS predecessor. That In the great
battle for human liberty and the rights
OF mankind Il will stand prc-cminent In
history not because OF laws or statutes
nut FOR the reason that the human In
telloct has torn away restrainta ana
superstition that hung like a pail ever
| II for ages gone by
The world has been fighting pro-
hlhltlon laws since government began.
II not in one form In another. RelIg-
| lous fanaticism, social REPRESENTATIVE
ana prosecutions have heen hurled up-
ON the people OF all countrles, hui in
the end they have disappeared under
the Increasing splcudnr OF the human
| intellect, battling for the rights and
| liberties OF men. Prohibition will 20
too, as the human race Journeys IN.
IA rnA
beside the other agltations that per-
shed IN ignoble attempts to trammcl
the liberty OF the citizen
why cannot one half the world LET
the other half alone, or bettor stnl why
not initiate the example OF the meek
Nnu loWly savior and teach them by
preccpt and example, The other hall
VIII never grow better under restraint
Freedom OF thought, action and spceeh
are the rights of every man. Shnckles
never change the heart nor do laws
alter human dehre Teach the other
half temperance and there tx no need
tor prohibition. Teach them II is sin.
iul and wrong TO drink aud the wine
press VIII STOP It's work ana the saloon
close It's doors.
Judge II J. l2oykin--G am opposed 10
prohibition ON principle. / regard II
as too much OF an invasion OF ludiVid
ual or natural right partakiug too
much of the spirit " Intolerance and
naternnlism While II liz true that the
surrender of u certain degree Of In.
dlNldual and natural right Tor the gen
cral good liz tho foundation OF all sucl
ely and law, yet the line must b,
drawn somewhere. My own opinion
Is that high license and strict regula.
tlon n M far hs the law should go,
and VIII also give the best practical
results. | am great believer IN mod
Grafton and temperance In all thingH,
And It has always seemed 10 me that
absolute prohibition ~ n species OF
eXuemolsm and intemperance In Itself,
n IN the abuse NJ drink that the law
should be aimed at II | were n pro-
hibltlonist Ia theory, ! would consider
local option In Fort Worth NJ this time
unwise and ill-advlsed IL Is great
M STAKE 20 believe that a theory
practice regardless OF circumstances
and surroundings FREQ trade may |
be correct as an abstract principle or |
theory, yet ! take II no wise states |
man would desire TO ace 4 put into |
practical operation today The most |
must admit that local option would at |
least temporarily hurt and deraugc |
the business OF the city, though he |
might honestly believe Il would In the |
long run prove financial benefit, Any |
temporary injury to Fort Worth's husl. |
opinion be a most serious matter to
all classes and interests OF both city |
and country,
Mr. N. NJ Washer OF Washer Bros.
said. l am opposed to locnl option for
two reasons Flrat, because / do not
mink a il nrnetIrn6ie. insonueb as il
does not prohibit nor stop the sale Of
liquors and, second. because Il II lnimi-
cal 10 aud Affects radically the business
interests N n community. travelled
from 81. Louis 10 Fort Worth last week
with one Of the leading merchants Of
Granbuiy. whose name l am not at
liberty To mention, aud from him !
learned that liaunr can be had rs freely
In his town now az II could have been
before the adoption OF local option.
He also said that he had visited Wealth
er;ord a few weeks ago. ana that he
noticed crowd going In and coming
out OF a saloon lust the same an though
the sale OF liquor was not prohibited.
Prompted by curiosity, he entered aud
engaged In conversation with the pro-
prletor, and from him he learned that
the only effect local option had on his
business was that he paid SIS for the
rent OF his saloon, whereas, before Its
adoption he paid 1l25 for the same
prefnlsea. and required no license. THIS
would be the natural sequence TO the
adoption OF local option In Fort Worth
We would lose the revenues derived
from the tax. license, ana rentals Of the
saloons, and liquor would be sold Just
the same. II IN impossible To make tho
same conditions suit q city OF $4,000
people That would suit a precinct OF
200 or 800 voters. For instance, the
adoption OF local option In Axle will
mako but little difference 10 the bust
ness interests of that community, ~
such step would not involve the clos
Ing OF single storeroom, whereas It's
adoption In Fort Worth means the
OF considerable capital and
the vacating OF many store houses,
whilst. AS | said before. the salo OF
liquors would not cease ] need not
add that do not sanction drinking.
You Will understand that In advancing
my opinion 1 am looking only 70 the
welfare OF our community. and that
none but good motives prompt mo 10
speak my convictions thus publicly
Mr.. c. 5. Battle OF the Carter-Batt
Grocery Company said: This local OPP
tlon election IL inopportnne. DO not
think the measure applies to n city
OF this alze. Think II will extract the
life from the city to adopt such q meas