Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03
A FARMERS VIEWS
ON POLITICS AND THINGS

To the Editor of The Journal:
AS you invite an exposition from the
people on matters of public interest and
having seen nothing from this part of the
moral vineyard" / will give vent to a
few expressions which are concurred IN
by various people with whom / meet.
AS regards the gubernatorial contest,
no doubt either of the three gentlemen
would make good governor. Mr.. Terrell
has raised himself in the estimation of
many people in refusing the joint debates
and refraining from cheap jests and ridi-
Guile of other candidates. Such things usu-
ally end in bitter personalities besides de-
tracing people especially farmers) from
more profitable employment. While a few
public speeches is perhaps well enough
for each candidate, almost everybody
takes one or more papers and can read.
As to the temperance question. 1 sup
pose the candidates are ali temperate men,
both in principle and practice. 1 have
never heard of either of them being in
temperate. If they were, suppose the
fact would have been aired before the
public long ago. l believe in being tenn
perate in all things, and would be glad
to see prohibition, too, if IL were practi-
cable or even possible; but there are some
things impossible, at least for the pres
ent.
Temperance like Christianity, must be
a personal matter. There is nothing that
can prevent many men (and women too.
as to that natter, who are now living
and many yet unborn from drinking whis-
ky, except the spirit of the good Lord
and strong preponderance Of pubic
opinion against it. 1t is well enough and
right, too. for the church, temperance so
cieties and individuals to keep hammer
ing away at the evil, but all great and
radical reforms come slow. Temperance
like Christianity, is of slow growth, but
both are steadily gaining ground.
1t is in the memory of many middle
aged men when the decanter sit on the
sideboard and was brought out to every
visitor, wine was on the tables of the
best people, employers of railroads, banks,
mercantile houses and owners on plan
tatfons could drink whisky freely and get
on occasional DRINKS and still hold their
job, but now all this is changed. The de-.
canter has been almost entirely abolished
from the sideboard and wine from the ia
BILE, and the fellow usually gets fired"
with his first drunk. 1 call this a long
stride for the temperance cause in so
short a time. Suppose the sale of whis-
ky is prohibited in the state it will be
shipped here from other states and even
If this could be prevented, somebody in
every community where ii is wanted will
make it. OF course they lay themselves
liable to be punished, but il is in constant
evidence that. when the revenue officers
break up their stills, pour out their whis-
ky, confscate their property, arrest fine
and imprison the men, that within a few
weeks or months at least. two stills have
sprung up where there was only one be-
fore. I am reliably informed they can
make the vile stuff in a coffee pot and
have distilling outfit perfected they can
take on their backs and outrun the off,
GERS.
Now I know the foregoing is open to
criticism, but I will wager odds that am
a better prohibitionist at heart than half
my critics. I simply believe in looking
facts squarely in the face There is no
doubt in my mind that during our genera
ton and the next, almost anyone who
has the money to pay for il, can find
enough whisky in some way to get drunk.
To make a good temperance man is like
making good Christian, you must con-
vince him thoroughly of the evil of drink
and he will hate whisky like the Christian
hates sin, and bring in other converts.
Hurrah for Mrs. FELTON,! While il is
not expected we can all agree in every
things, many of us think she hits the nail
on the head much oftener than she miss
es. We also think the benefits from the
public schools are by no means common
surate with the amount of money appro-
priated. Much has been said about the
teachers being underpaid but ii occurs TO
days of the week, much less pay would
bring broad smile over some of us who
pull the bell-line of a BALKAN from 10 to IA
hours six days in the week besides fire.
quently having to pull the OK out of the
ditch on Inc seventh day.
AS regards the number and pay of many
of the government employees, considering
the services rendered, it is simply outra-
geous.
read Rev. A. J. Beck's recent speech
in Newman. 1t is certainly a lucid and
strong argument. We knew him at Mer-
Ger back in the sixties-later on as faith
full pastor and teacher and cultured gen.
tleman and we have never heard aught
against his high business capacity and
Christian integrity. He has many friends
over the state and will no doubt poll
large vote.
FARMER.
Eatonton, Ga.
MRS. FELTON, DOESN'T KNOW