The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-15

In Mississippi 20 counties out OF 20
are dry, and those 20 counties cover
ten-elevenths of its area and five-sixths
of its population.
At Home.
How is public opinion in our own
land of flowers?
OF the As counties in Florida 50 are
dry. OF the 13 remaining wet no less
than four are at this time making ef-
forts to throw off the yoke of bond
age and step out into the highway
to prosperity, morality and happy
homes.
In Suwanee county, where prohi-
bition has been tried for IL years, I'M
precedented prosperity has been en-
joyed. Only one police officer among
1000 inhabitants preserves good or
der.
The tax rate in Alachua county was
reduced IL mills last year, after
three years of prohibition The fines
from % persons convicted of rum
ming blind tigers was $3.50 more than
the entire cost of trial and convic-
ton.
i jackson county-Mr. ]. D. Smith,
president of the City State Bank, says:
1--WE would not for anything change
back to bar-rooms again. The town sup
ported one bank when the count
was wet. Now it supports two with
increased deposits
And so all along the line in Flor
ida all of the dry counties are with
out exception unusually prosperous.
A Business Proposition.
Business men all over our country
are recognizing that prohibition is
business proposition, all lines of bust
ness excepting the liquor traffic thriv
ing beyond expectation under the
abolition of the saloon. And aside
from the moral and religious aspects
of this great question, and taking up
its weakest argument, that of selfish
business advantages, the prohibition
movement has come to stay.
ADEQUATE LAWS.
The last session of the legislature
passed several amendments to the
laws regulating the liquor traffic And
in the opinion of our prohibition lead
ers the laws Of this state are ample
to catch and convict all such law
breakers The prohibition and the
law and order leagues are both anx-
ious to be given an opportunity to
show what can be done in this direc-
ton.
"a booklet entitled "Florida's Blind
Tiger Laws has been issued by the
Prohibition League, which will be
sent oHt on request and which gives
the laws in full as passed in 1907 and
synopsis of others applicable to the
traffic)
ADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF
THESE LAWS.
Escambia county Is especially fortu-
nate in the personnel of its officers,
and that all of those connected with
the enforcement of the, laws are true
and have been tried and given hearty
endorse ment to the law enforcement
idea.
Thoughts Black, Hands Apt, Drugs
Fit and Time Agreeing"
Violations of the law by the selfish,
vicious and powerful are and have
been so fragrant that a remedy is nee
essary. a.
Public opinion has crystalized
against this lawless class into law en-
| forcement.
Law enforcement has proved, and
Is proving, so satisfactory and benefi-
oial that public opinion Is gratified
| AS the saloon element is so largely
a lawless force 1t follows that the
laws against it and regulation Of the
traffic must be respected as well as
the laws against other evils.
I Law enforcement is insepara Bile
| from the prohibition movement.
Law enforcement insures the sue
cess eventually of a universal world
wide prohibition movement.
Prohibition is religious, moral and
economic necessity and as such must
and will prevail
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE.