The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-22

Words in Defense Of Prohibition
The Evil of IntoXicantS.
In the court house Friday night there
was gathered large number of citi-
zenS, among whom were many ladies,
over which Col J. S. Young presided.
The first speaker was Hon. T. F. Bell,
Judge OF the District Court. who is rare
ly absent from home at night 1t is only
when momentous issues are being con-
sidered that Judge Bell can be induced
to appear in public, when not on official
duty. His presence at the Friday night 5
meeting, particularly as one of the
speakers, is significant. 1t is responsive
to the call of duty and is enlisted in de-
Tense Of principles which to him are
more important and sacred than the plea
of revenue as applied to the saloon. For
more than an hour Judge Bell, without
effort, entertained his hearers i'll a logi-
cal and interesting presentation of the
question of prohibition, which he sup
ported with the rulings and opinions of
State COURTS and the Supreme Court of
the United States. He demonstrated the
disadvantage and the evils of the liquor
traffic, which no sane man disinterested
can or will defend. From a practical ex
perience of years as a Judge, during
which he has been in contact with all
classes Of men and of crimes. In the
course of his speech he said:
"The first claim made by the ants is
that prohibition does not prohibit. The
man that makes such an assertion makes
me doubt his sincerity.
IF he means that prohibition will not
stop the consumption of liquor l agree
with him; you can not stop the old
topper. But -tenths of the drunken
ness begins with social drinking Two
young men meet III front of a,saloon and
enter to take social drink Had there
been no saloon they would have taken
no drink. The old topper will make his
jug, but whiskey being hard to get he
will hoard, hide and hold on to the
drink for his own thirst.
Then they plead high license We
have tried it. What has high license
done? | am tired of passing sentence on
poor old George Neil. Next to the last
time he appeared before me l sentenced
him to pay fine of $1,000, thinking that
it would stop him. But here comes the
brewer, pays his fine, buys his license
and installs him in hell's hole down yorl-
der to continue his business. You may
install the high license if you want to,
but the brewers will pay the tax
Reviewing the assertion of the oppo-
sition who allege that the city is to a
great extent dependent on the liquor
license for its maintenance, queried:
'!Where does that money come from?
From the city's wage earners passed
over the counter in small portions to
pay for the drinks when it would other
wise have been diverted into better
channels. 1t forces the poor man to
the city government.
is it wise for good government to
appoint dram sellers to collect its taxes
to defray the expense Of the commun
ty? If he did not take the money from
the people, it would remain in their
pockets to be expended along lines for
the betterment of every family. Will
any decent community appoint such peo-
Die to collect their taxes?'
He concluded his address by asking
that the voter take a pair Of gigantic
scales. extended from Gods heaven,
place in one balance the $4,000 income
received from the saloons; in the other
he weeks, the tears Of the orphan, the
groans of the widow and the ruined
homes Look upon this" cried the
Judge, and then decide!''
Judge Bell during his speech and at
its conclusion was applauded enthusias
-ically.
Preceding the speech by Rev. Jasper
K Smith, Colonel Young announced the
absence Of Mayor Bo1en-
helm Of Longview, Texas, who had been
detained by misconnection of the trains
When Dr. Smith faced the audience
ne was greeted with long and over
applause He addressed his
auditors from the practical standpoint
If dollars and cents as applied to morals
which he interpsersed with appropriate
sallies and mirth provoking references
which enhanced the enthusiasm to the
greatest pitch. He ridiculed the preten-
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