The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-27
AGAINST WHISkEY.
Card From the Anti Saloon League
of Tennessee.


Fellow Citizens: Our Anti-Saloon
League modestly puts forth for your
consideration and action the following
clear propositions:
81. Temperance and local self-gov-
ernment are both right principles.
This is so evident that we believe it
will be agreed to by all.
80. Temperance and local self-gov-
ernment will be promoted by amend
ing our present -Four Mile law so that
it can be extended to any town where
a majority of the voters want it. In
proof of this we point to the results
of the Four Nile law after nearly
quarter of a century of trial. Saloons
have been abolished in nearly all our
area not in incorporated towns, and
in all such towns but about 80. Over
half of our SO counties have not sa
loon in them. The whole face of the
country stands as wellwritten page
of statistics, showing to all the world
that temperance and good order have
wonderfully increased in the towE and
country territory covered by this law.
1t is one of the best temperance laws
in the world. Tennessee originated
it, and is still sole owner. Ordinary
local option applied to towns, merly
drives out saloons, and permits them
to set up outside the corporate limits.
AS applied to counties, it drives them
just across the line, and that is poor
protection to towns in the protected
county, near the line. A new vote is
called upon the question at intervals,
and constant strife is the result When
the Four, Mile law is once applied. it
applies forever. and the people know
this, and act upon it with their eyes
open. 1t covers all the ground outside
of incorporated towns. Generally but
one such town is in each county, and
when this law is made to cover its
ground also, wide stretches of protec-
tion extend in all directions. When
ever the citizens of any town think
such protection should be extended To
them, they should have the right to
hold an election and pass upon the
question. THIS would abolish saloons
as demanded, by sufficient public senti-
ment to enforce the law against them.
Temperance would be promoted, crime
and poverty would decrease, and the
people would feel that the right oi
the ballot in settling their local affairs
had not been denied them. Why limit
this right to towns of 2, 900 population
and under, as we are doing at present
Are not all the towns just as com
petent to manage their own affairsi
Should not the sacred right of settling
their own issues by the ballot bt
guaranteed them also? AL through
the State they are smarting under tn,
indignity which they rightly feel il
npon them. Should they never want t.
abolish saloons, this freedom of ballo
is theirs by right, and we call upoi
the people of our State to see tina
they have it. To refuse them, is to
strike blow at the very foundation
of our government, and for less mel
have rushed to the field with bayonet
? of this wrong fully comes upon them
the present uprising in Tennessee
against it will take on the aspect 0
holy war, not only for temperance
but for the liberty bought with tn
blood of our ancestors
"3. The desired amendment of ou
. Four Mile law is most likely to b
obtained by the plan proposed by th
Anti Saloon League. In brief, it ]
, to nave the people of all parties speal
, out inside their own party lines
and send no men to the Legislator
who are opposed to giving the people
these rights. We believe that NOR
than threefourths Of the voters il
each of the parties are in favor G
: abolishing saloons. Probably NOR,
are in favor of giving the people tn
right to do as they please about ii
Our plan is simply to induce thes
great majorities to control their ow
parties, without longer tamely sui
l mitting to the control of the minorities
9 brought about by the assistance of me
in high places, or by men in sue
/ places allowing themselves to be lie
on by other issues from this importan
4 one. The League now has the assul
e ance of prominent men in all partie
: that they are favorable to our plan
You are called upon TO see that th
/; next Legislature is right, especially th
r Senate. You are also asked to see ths
: men put into control of party ms
0 chinery are men favorable to our cause
3 Aroused as you are upon this subject
e it will be poor politics for your part
d to put our opposers in promlner
d places Protest against it. We assur
9 the different party managers, of OF
y friendship, and our belief in their pul
n pose to give the people what they al
n now clamoring for, We shall kee
}, clear of anything, so far as possible
d which will through our influence giV
one party an advantage over anothe
The press is favorable to our effort
and we believe it will give this addres
wide currency, with or without con
ment. Church courts have widely al
proved our movement and we are lool
ing to the ministry to speak out fro
every pulpit. Our organization
l. rapidly extending itself throughor
y the State. Towns desiring our hel
. can command us at any time. LeagU
e officers are responsible to God and II
l. people for the exercise of their trus
With all these facts before our fello
II citizens. we call upon them, regar
: less of party, church, temperance o
/ ganization. to center upon the plai
herein outlined. and rise to our assis
rt ance in this fight for purity of Ii