The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-11
Prohibition Question Again.

Editor Of TIE Times: ,..ho-
Sir--Come. come. now, sood protnel'
don't get so red in the face ai'eI ANS nus
bee., so kind as 20 let me locate you
with definition and TO demonstrate thal
thie dononent aid not libel you IN the
aalleged grave charge n pea ol ~
feysion and Justification Is not u,'u IN
mon. but should always be cam anu uls
niHed Who, pray, ever saiu sou -,
under cOmpusiOn to answer -
from me? But as you recognize the PEI
tinenov of the question by answering
them 'of your own volition,' thahk ~ ~
for the act of answering. ] merely olleu
mn vour mowers of "vOlition' IN the
PREMISES. seer And while il is sad Tor
YOU 10 recognize It as safe TO be Visa y !,
10 myself in prohibition contests OF an
kinds. vet possibly each of US VIII CON
time 10 do business at the ola stahu'
and the world manage 20 wabDie along
after a fashion. Notwithstanding.
The answer you give TO my seVerai
questions leave my original proposition
intact. to-wit: That your article Is pldc-
ticaily an apology for am-drlnhlns' VI,
IL you please. the Industrial rishl VI
such Indulgence in moderation, and Tor
the licensed saloon, which position COM
ynjts YOU TO the opposition of the noblest
efforts of the age in behalf of social ana
moral reform" for you now maintain
mans right TO drink whisky. and that II
Is "impertient for PrOhibtionists 10 at
tempt by sumptuaTy laws (by when you
mean prohibitory laws) to prevent MN.
And vet you said my serious charge was
that you were an apol0gist for tipping
and bar-rooml Ny regret stiii exists
that you should have taken position
antagonistic TO the leading religious ana
moral reform bodies Of the day. But as
YOU say you are not a candidate for
office and responsible 10 no one toT your
news-that IT Is no mans affair but your
own. etc.-and as you deem me imperti-
uent. / have no desire 10 further trespasS
on your patience and space in discussing
a matter evidently so distasteful 10 you.
YOU are dead wrong" and your fallacies
have been exposed time and time again.
Incidentally | will mention the fact that
the celebrated Dr. Shields, late of the
Presbyterian church, and who lett the
church because of the antagonism TO his
action in endorsing the application for
Princeton Inns saloon license, In re-
cent number of the outlook" defends
YOUR view Of the case in the main, and
that in the following number Of the
magazine there are five pages Of criti-
cisms on the article from the pens or
scholarly men. ana not one dIiltlt HluluS
with the Doctor whereas the editor (him-
self on the side of Or. Shields tells us
that these letters are selected from a
large number as the most conservative.
Pardon me for an anecdote and don't
get angry. When | lived in the country
I'm other days ! was wont 20 go 'possum
hunting on occasions. one night bre'er
'pcssum gave me a lively time freeing
him. lie jumped from bush TO bush and
sapling 10 sapling. eludng-me. but finally
ensconced himself up in an old oak
Uncle Jerry. our pilot. was directed 10
cut down the tree, but he then replied
Mars William. faint no use. You done
freed him. sure an you don't Tub pos
sum no way, and what's more. ef you
did he done fret hisself so he be no
sarvice ter YOU" Now don't say | made
a personal comparison between yourself
and the possum or between myself and
the dog that freed him. for l didn't.
Like yourself. I am not a candidate
for Office. / have no axe 10 grind.
do not crave notoTiety But. believing
this question the most important OF the
day, I have given my side Of NJ the
best efforts Of my life. and shall continue
10 do so without fear or favor or malice.
and without hope Of personal reward.
and / always sign ny name because
deem 1t the proper thing 10 do, espe-
cially when one is on the unpopular side.
W. NJ BICKERS.
Richmond, Va, Nov. TO- 1898.