The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-10-27
pRonIBIrIoN sTATEHoop.


The agitation OF the subject OF prohibition has reached
tangible form in the Indian Territory. The possibility
Of statehood under the Hamiltan bill that pending
in the lower house has stirred the friends OF prohibition
and the better element In the territory generally TO re-
newed action against the saloon The sentiment is that
It will be easier to keep liquor ont Of the new state now
than TO admit 1t and then try TO drive 1t out
Some OF the strongest and most influential men in
both political parties have enlisted in the fight and the
Hamilton bin win not be passed In its present form with
out struggle.
II the Indian Territory is given statehood with
egalzed saloon provision, the Indian Is doomed to ruin
soon, swift and remoreless The average member OF
congress scarcely realizes what the open saloon would
really mean to the Indian. AS race he is far more In
clned to give himself up without reservation to self
indulgence in any sort Of dissipation that attracts him.
The only moral restraint that will reach the Indian Is
absolute Prohibition II left 10 temptation and depend
ent upon his own powers OF self control he is entirely
helpless II will be n sad day for the Indian when his
country is thrown open the sale Of Intoxicating liquors
| But putting the Indian out Of the question: why
should we allow the saloon to come into this fair land
with tile advent OF sateho0dY Does any man undertake
TO say that such thing is necessary Will any one ar
que that business viii be better life safer or patriot
ism stronger by Incorporating this confessed evil greater
than any Or an other evils with which Che world has 70
dog
Nobody wants 10 employ drinking men II they can get
Others who do no, drink All railroads, and steamship
lines ali factories mines aud corporations generally
where men aeempoyed, give the preference 70 the man
who is q total abstainer
II the business world las come to regard thc drink
habit as an umttgated evil why not abolish Che drink
Ing places and thus remove tile temptation for men 70 90
thing that win render them Ineligible TO service, even
as common aborersY
They tell us that prohibition don't prohibit, and that
as long as men do not regard the law il ought not TO be
enforced This is remarkable argument and doesn't
have the virtue Of As well declare that as
the laws against larceny don't put quietus on stealing
they should therefore be repealed and every thief al
lowed to plumber his negnbon much as be pleases
The prohibition laws can be enforced, and are being
enforced in many counties throughout the states Each
wear sees more and more prohibition laws County after
county In Kentucky, Tennessee. Missouri, Texas, aud
nearly all the Southern going dry as often
as an election is held The people igettng tired Of
the cure Of drink and the sentiment against 1t IS grow
Ing everywhere There reason TO be tired Of the "a
loon Its tendency Is always evil
1t is said that Kansas is an example Of state where
prohibition don't prohibit TIE statement is not true
We quote Judge Joseph A. Gin Of the Northern district
Of Indian Territory as authority for the statement that
in the counties In Kansas where the prohboy laws are
enforced there Is little crime and the expense Of crim
nal courts is largely saved TO the taxpayers The jais II
some Of these counties stand Idle and empty whereas Il
the communities where the laws are ignored the percent
age Of crime Is perceptiby greater. Il Is The shame
Kansas that Law Is her statute books that cannot
or Is not enforced when Is for good only and not 10
evil
Away with the idea that The saloon will I'D eits
. and towns and make communities prosper aeslziz.
could be farther from the truth The Indian TerrtsE
would make grand state, and IL win be grander N
greater without the saloon and the best war 70 kssp
! out Is 70 not let Il come In.