The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-06-22
MR.. MOORE AND THE BANNER.

in these columns with Mr.. Moore but
ne "butted in without any invita-
ton. So the controversy is not of
this papers choosing, but is Of Mr..
Moore's own seeking.
On last Sunday we reprinted an ar
ticlc from the DeI4and Weekly News
depicting the workings of the prohibit
ton move ment in that county. The
editor of the News is a strong "fprohf-
bitionist" and is making a fight for a
more rigid enforcement of the prohi-
bition laws.
Among other things contained in
the News was the following:
"Such scenes of debauchery and
profanity were enough to cause the
blush of shame to mantle the cheek
of every decent person." etc.
In commenting on this chpD;ng the
Banner said:
Marion is a wet county. but no
such scenes as are herein described
occurred anywhere within her borders.
eff what Mr.. Codrington and his
friends say of Volusia is true, it is a
bad county, and its morals are at a
low ebb; its university and prohibit
ton agitators are making a poor
showing as the result of their labors.
Something must be wrong somewhere.
The picture drawn Of Volusia is sad
and discouraging.'
We submit that this was a legiu-
mate criticism. 1t was neither I'm
fair nor offensive to any good nor in
telligent person.
In reply to Mr.. Moore's sharp and
rasping criticism Of this editorial, in
order TO avoid a controversy, the Ban
ner did not attempt a word of its
own. 1t simply reproduced an ar
ticle from the pen of Miss Jefferson
Bell, which had just been published
in the Gainesville Sun, the Tampa
Tribune, and some other newspapers.
in which she stated that: Prohibition,
as applied to Lem county, is a fail
ure."
Mr.. Moore complained that there
were. typographical errors in his ar
ticle and implied that they were made
Intentionally.
In his first article Mr.. Moore not
only said that prohibition does pro-
hibit," but further along in the body
of his article used the words, "abso-
lutte prohibition" showing that he did
not place any restrictions nor limi-
tations to it's meaning.
If Mr.. Moore was not making COM
parsons of evils nor seeking to place
the sale and use Of liquors on a plane
with "hog stealing" and murder"
why did he lug these offensive refer
ences into the discussion?
We hold. that moral questions ought
to be settled along moral lines
through the education of the head and
heart. To this end should be gener-
ously enlisted the press, the pulpit
and the school
We do not believe that you can leg
islate a people moral and temperate
any more than you can legislate them
tolerant, religious and refined.
These things must have their foun-
dations elsewhere. If the church look
ed to the courts to hold it together
it would soon go to pieces.
It may be true that prohibition laws
may lessen the sale and use of in
toxicants but even here, as Miss Bel
la11o 40 -
Again referring to the DeLand
Weekly News whose editor, like Mr.
Moore. is a prohibitionist, and be-
fieved that prohibition would be a
panacea for the evil. but was sorely
disappointed, describes the condition
of affairs in volusia county as fol-
lows:
"The News fears that some of our
people are hypocrites. This is meant
for only those whose shoes pinch.
GAS a result OF the prosecutions last
summer and fall, many of the minor
offenders were arrested and fined
while those of means and influence
were not molested. For instance, ar
old woman living near Ormond who
raised grapes, made few gallons OF
domestic wine, and sold it by the
quart or gallon, was arrested, hauled
before court, tried, convicted, fined
and disgraced. But rich and infiuen-
tial people, living within short dis
lance of this old woman, are allowed
to maintain one of the finest bar.
rooms in this state, with polished
counters and cut-glass decanters
five to eight bartenders are in regu.
lar attendance, and the latest Theo.
dore Roosevelt. Manhattan and Bish-
op Potter cocktails are served to those
who want the fancy drinks.
This is only sample. There arr
dozens of other cases which nigh
be cited"
Mallory on the Drainage of the Ever
| glades.