Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-29
ANOTHER VIEW GIVEN
LOCAL OPTION As SEEN FROM An
OTHER POINT.
Mr.. Henry Furman Is Heard From
Agnin on the Question of
the Hour.

Mr.. Henry Furman was in par
tucularly happy mood when seen 10y
Mall-Telegram reporter this morning
and when asked what he thought Of the
canvas said;
"Our local option friends deny that
they are attempting TO. dictate 70 the
people what they shall or shall not
drink. rhey admit that each man has
u right TO drink what he pleasos. They
claim that their only purpose h 10
stop the sale Of liquor. Prentending
to recognize the fact that each man
has right TO drink whatever he
plenses, and denying any purpose to
dictate In this respect they are trying
70 put II out Of HE power 10 exercise
this right, This IL logic with Ven
gcance, The conclusion cannot be o.
capped that II man has right TO
use an article he also has the right to
purchase that article. II the right to
purchase exists the right TO sell can
not be denied To prohibit the sale has
the san5 effect as a prohibition or the
purchase, and necessarily prohibits the
use. These rights cannot be discon-
nected from each other II one exists
the other cannot logically be denied
Because u right may be abused IL no
reason why that right should be- taken
away When the evil exists the remedy
should be aimed at the abuse of the
right which results In the evil and not
az the right itself, II our local option
friends would recognize this principle
and aim their remedies solely at the
abuse Of the use OF Intoxicating drinks
they would AT once disnrm opposition
and receive the hearty support OF all
good citizens, This they refuse to do
Their contention Is that intcmperance
IL nm evil. From this premises they
assume the conclusion that local option
In HE proper remedy, It must be oh
vlous too all that II is the abuse OF the
right OF use, and hot &c the sale, that
causes intcmperOnCe, Yet our local on
ton friends, disclaiming any purpose
OF the abuse Of which the evil directly
to Interfere with the right OF use out
arises, contend that their only pur-
pose is to prohibit the sale, the result
OF which, II successful would be to
destroy right the existence OF which
they acknowledge.
"A more inconsistent proposition than
this could not be assumed. They should
come out boldly and assume the post
ton that they have the right to dc
tate 10 the rest OF the community what
they shall not drink While some ~
the feeble minded among them do take
this position, the leaders repudlatc IL.
" they have a right 10 dictate TO the
rest Of the community what they shalt
not drink, they also have the right ia
dictate what they shall not eat. Ii
they have the right to dictate to the
rest VI inc community what they shall
not drink and eat. they also have the
right to dictate what the rest Of the
! community shall drink and eat So. TO
| admit the premises, that our local 90.
/ uon friends have the right to dictate
20 the community what they shall not
| drink, carries the logical conclusion
that they have the right to dictate a
| daily bin OF fare for tho re sple 1he
! champions of local option seeing this
deny that they are Trying 10 dictate
! what other people shall not drink. but
claim that they are only trying 10
! stop the sale OF liuuor. This Is like nd.
hitting that a man has the right 10
! ehurn, use butter and drink hutter.
milk. but denying his right TO purchast
or own a COW.
They might with Just as much show
| o. reason admit the right or the peo.
| pie TO use matches and AT The SAINT
| time contend that the sale of tnatches
should be prohibited The proner use
! nt matches, like the proper use II
LIQUOR does no harm, Blit mntches
like liquor are often put 10 impropet
ana INJURIOUS uses, They greatly Ia.
eilitate the pernicious habit df sni1i ine
gisnteites among hoys Who can deny
but that this bad habit would ls
greatly lessened n the sale and ,ae
OF matches Was prohib,ted9 Matches
are used by persons intending 10 com.
NIT ths crime OF arson, The careless