Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-24
AGAINST PROHIBITION
John A. Robs|Iag VIII Leave Ashe.
Vile Because Of Its Vote
CALLS IT STRANGE PHILOSOPHY
They Should Reform Drunkards by
Stopping Drinking with Them--New
Jersey Millionaire viii Go Back to
Trenton, Where His Father Lives.

ASHEVILllE, s. c.. Dec. 23.--John
a. Roeblins's decision TO leave Ashe-
vile because II has voted for prohi-
bition has caused n lot of talk here.
lie has resided hero for ten years. ana
spent much time and money In beau
Trying his estate. Deauxchcncs.
which adjoiss George w. Vanderbilt's
Biltmore estate. Now he will deed
me 100000 property TO the home mis-
sion board of the Northern Presby.
terrain Church and go back to Trcn.
ton to live.
He Leaves for Principle.
Mr.. Roebling says he regards pro
niDition as detrimental to the city's
future welfare. He wishes 1t under
STOOD That no personal feeling enters
INTO his purpose: that 1t is simply a
matter of principle. He took an nc
i've part against prohibition in the
campaign OF last October. In explain
ing MS IDEAS. Mr.. Roebling said:
During all the years of my resi-
uehce In Asheville I have defended
the city's good name. But the asser
.lon was made by leaders of the pro.
nihition campaign that, according to
us opportunities. Ashcvlle was abou.
the worst place In the United States.
Asheviile Is broad-minded and intel
hseht. It's people are hospitable, lib
eral. and progressive. II has large
element of visitor-residents These
people come here primarily for tho
eiiiiate; or the scenery: they remain
mere l'ecause they like the people.
Where has been the discord and
violence that characterize so many
nlnGnGV hnp "a
as n labor problem. Our people we're
united-all working together to make
this the reat resort town of the
South.
"A Strange Philosophy"
Now there has come n i,scordan,
note. A strang philosophy is being
preached among lis. We are told that
grown men are unsuited to be the
judges of their personal habits The
sort OF people who have been attract
ca 10 Asheville as residence town
VIII not take kindly to infringement
of their personal liberty. They will
resent the proposition that they nre
unable to regulate their own affairs
without the assistance of n police.
man.
TO drink alcoholic liquor ia NOT
,t,, - ~ Aioii any point OF view.
therefore to sell such liquor is no.
wrong per Sc. Prohibition is an at.
tempt TO declare thing wrong which
Is not wrong. Is the saloon a cause.
or an effect? Saloons exist because
men drink. Let the prohibitionists
who would reform the drunkard ston
drinking with them.
The consensus of opinion of the
TEST and strongest minds Is that high
license Is the best system of reguln-
ton; that prohibition ia wrong in
principle and contrary to the funda.
mentais of our system of government.
People Will Lose Homes"
with successful prohibition cleo
ton the money market will become
ught' outstanding loans will be called
In, and values will depreciate to such
an extent that those people who are
On the borrowing list will not be able
70 renew present loans, and will prob
ably not be able to secure new ones.
What Will be the result? More moor
people will lose their homes through
foreclosure and turn QUITO be con-
iirmed drunlkards than there are hab.
itual drunkards in the city of Ashe
willie today
Every one who has studied human
nature at all must recognize the truth
of this conclusion"