The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-06-02
W. C. 7. U. COLUMN.
NOTES ON THE LECTURE BY THE
HON. CHRIS. MATHESON, MAY
Edited By Palatka Union.
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MIR. MathesOn has had consider
able experience in prohibition cam
raigu work, and, as II citizen of
Gainesville, he has witnessed the
benefits of dry railing.
In 1887 Alachua county had its
first prohibition electiOn-and went
dry" Within the next two years the
liquor men circulated literature, an
other election was called in 1883, and
the county went dry" again. Then
came the yellow fever scourge; many
people left their homes; the temper
auee forces were disorganized, and
for II years the county was wet. i"
Since the last election, when saloons
were prohibited, there has been
unprecedented prosperity.
Hon. Carol ID. Wright says that
for every $l.00 received from the
liquor traffic we lose $1,000. Glad
stone says that liquor destroys more
than war, famine, and pestilence
| More than 100000 every year fill
drunkards graves Liquor is respOn-
sible for 30 per cent of the idiots,
Az per cent lunatics, Is per cent Grim
innls, 80 per cent paupprs.
BUSINESS. To give full account
of business prosperity resulting from
prohibition would be wenrisOme
The Daily Sun of Gainesville, in a
recent issue, contained an article
entitled "Gainesvillr is Growing
| Town" This paper had not stood
| for prohibition, but now it calls at
tention to its good results. The city
directory just completed shows IA
population of 3, 260, of which 1925 are
white, which is a gain in the past t
years of l,62l people.
Here Mr.. MathesOn read from the
booklet issued by the prohibition
committee of Putnam county on
pages s and about Alachua county
since it has gone dry. To the testi-
mony of W. w. Hampton, attorney;
J. NJ. Rivers, legislator; H. 5. Chubb,
receiver L. ;. land Office; and L. I.
| Thomas, chairman board of county
commissioners, he gave his hearty
endorsement. There is: l, less
drunkenness, more sobricty; ,, less
crime, more business; 3, fewer ar
rests, more bank deposits; t, less
criminal court business, more build
ing; 5, less drinking, more employ
ment of labor. The county tax rate
was reduced ~ mills. These book
lets had been distributed at the meet
ing, so he called his hearers atten-
ton to the figures on page u show
ing that in Hamilton county, the
Total cost of the courts the last two
years they had saloons was 9,l24 So.
Total cost courts last , yrs
without saloons was ........ 80, 1901.
Total saving to county of 50, $3.50.
Saloons are replaced by grocery
stOl es and drug stores; where one OF
the worst dives stood is now erected
a brick block.
Here is good point: The liquor
men had cried that prohibition would
kill the business of their town. We
did not have to prove that prohibit
tion would increase the business. 1t
was necessary only to prove that it
would not kill business to show
the fallacy of their statement. But
it not only did not harm, but it
helped business.
BLIND TIGERS. How saloon men
are interested in blind tigers What
horrors they can rouse on this sub
iect! Prohibition does not pro-
hibit." No, not perfectly, nor does
any pTohibitory law receive perfect
obedience-but they greatly improve
matters.
Some one had called Mr.. Mathe-
sons attention to the fact that there
was not the customary crowd on
certain part of the street. He re-
piled: mo, but who composed that
crowd ?o They named them over
and the man admitted that these did
not bring money into the town. The
men on the streets now are there for
busine
Prohibition does prohibit the lie
cnsed saloon, The blind tiger does
not attract, lst the first-class gentle
man; I'd the boys (aS they might
"squeal" on them) or Sd, the crowd
of rutlians.
II would rather have two blind
tigers than one attractive, Turing
salOonm Here Il good Methodist
brother called out, "Amenn' and the
smile that went around We're surely
those of APPROVAL.
Saloons cannot exist without boys. |
The question is: Whose boys |
My boy or your boy?"
A MORAL ISSUE. If the foregoing
arguments failed still, this should be |
decided, as it right?'
When Gen. Lee was about to sur
render the army of North Virginia,
someone objected. What will his
tory say?" Gen. Lee replied that |
history might not record the great |
numbers against which they fought, |
nor their bravery, yet he believed it |
was not right to allow further sacri-
flee. He said ut it right?"
Can anything good be said about |
saloons?
Mr.. Matheson related his having a |
pleasant conversation with a man |
on train, and that on parting he |
expressed hope of seeing him again.
The man replied: II am afraid not |
fear we will never meet again. I'm |
in II bad business, I'm saloon keep |
err Every one must acknowledge |
the evils of this work. Mr.. Mathe- |
son quoted many scriptural passages
to establish the moral side of this |
question.
Sometimes Mr.. MathesOn is asked |
why he fights the saloons, Had he |
any personal reasons p WAS he |
afraid of the saloon?' To which he |
replied: YES, am afraid" He said |
in substance 81 have seen better
men than l am fall victims to drink
| have seen richer men than | could |
ever hope to be, made paupers, and
| have seen brainy men the latcheU
of whose shoes l am not worthy to
unloOse,' made simpletons."
you've got to fight, you can't
make terms. 1t is my enemy, it is
your enemy. 1t does concern you"
The large congregation that heard
Mr.. MnIhnSnn'S nlnnnant nnneals