The Forrest City times., 1906-08-31
PROHIBITION.
By r. II fiensley

Editor Times
 Dear sir; wit you please admit a lew re marks from me on the above subject:
 l. some things that are ueefu iu them selves are extremely dangerous. and have tt be handled with the greatest caution: such for instance as firearms, deadly poisons. and dynamite. Liquor, in my opinion, belongs in the same class Whatever may be its value as remedy ID disease its use as a beverage is evil and only evil and that coutfn ualfy War has slain its thousands, but liquor its ten thousands. IL converts a host Of men into drunkards every year and host ot women and children into paupers.
 .. How to regulate the destructive traffic in ardent and human spirits is the question shall we try nigh license. low license, no Ii. oense at all, the dispensary system or prohl- otlonf The only way to regulate a pestllenee Is To eXterminate it, and because the iiquor trafhe Is Of near kin to n pestilenee, II seems to me that prohibition is the right measure if Il can only he made effective.
 3. This is indeed most important uues- ton IT it cannot be made reasonably affec. tive what Is the use of the agitationP If the community as whole demands the enforce. ment of the law. will not the officers be glad to do their duty in the premises? If not can they not be impeaehed and removed and others appointed who will obey aud enforce |. tective seems to me 10 be clearly proven by the fact that hguor dealers are universally opposed 10 IT. We can understand why local dealers might be opposed to the law even though elective. But If just as much lfouor IS used under prohibition as under license why are all the wholesale dealers against il ana why are they so hostiIeg If the craft by which they have their wealth is not iniurad but rather benefited by prohibition. why do tneS make such an uprOar about II and why tnose tears We infer that that there is more force in prohibition than some will admit
 !. II does not seem to me that any consid- efation oi revenue should influence us in se. ciding this question. Ne would hardly aa. mt The eholers or yellow fever for the sake ot revenue. We can exist after a fashion without the revenue. The decentralization of the people or portion of them is too high a price 10 pay for the revenue.
 .. IT revenue is the supreme considera- tlon and the liquor traffic must continue for thls reason, then why not consider and adont the ulsnensary systemt This reduces inc evils or the trathe 10 a minimum and raises the revenue 10 maximum. Under this svs. tem the revenue to this community wouId he as understand. much larner than il Is Is hot state or elty Justiiiable in taking charge oi any business that cannot be otherwi 50 regulated. and that Is A standing menace to the welfare of the peopef W
 Tor my own part am in favor of inc on. ure dlsconunuanoe of the business and ex. peet to vote accordingly. In conclusion I of Ter the following extract from Archbishon John Ireland of the Roman Catholic ehurohs The great cause Of social crime is drinl The great cause of poverty is drink When I hear of family broken up and ,ask fhs cause-drink. If go to the gailows and ask me victim fhe cause, the anewer-drink Then ! ask myself in perfect wonderment. "os So hot men put stop to teis thinf7