The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-12

Sherard. Miss, August 10, 1907. I speak to men today who have Sons What would you think of a business man who would come to you and say, I've must keep up the value O; my property, even if 1t takes the character and life of your boy to do it?" And yet, that is exactly what every man says, when he advocates saloons in order that property values may be main tained
 But now, I want to deny that prohibl- ton hurts property values. The state Of Kansas has had prohibition for fifteen years, and was never so prosperous as today. Bankers, merchants and other bus mess men in Kansas City, Kan, who eighteen months ago were afraid to have the law enforced, for fear it would hurt business, recently signed statement 10 the effect that under eighteen months of prohibition their business had increased 40 to 50 per cent.
 The south has always looked to the east for money to move the cotton crop. Last winter the banks of Kansas said we can let you have all the money you want to move your cotton. Under prohibition the southern states would, in a short while, be independent of outside banking lnsti- tutions.
 hilOW tHdl NdCdnI blOTe TOOnlS looHi up big; but in spite of that my position Is true, and the reason for 1t Is that the barroom is not a productive institution. It feeds upon the earnings of others, but produces nothing that is helpful to so- ciety.
 The Curse of Drink.
 The man who drinks reduces his earn ing capacity His wages gradually dimin- ish, and a large part of what he does earn is worse than thrown away By md by he becomes dependent, his family Is reduced to want. and the wife he prom ised to love, cherish and protect must make a living with her own hands, or see her children sent to the orphan asy- lum. Take away the saloon and there will be more bread winners; they will earn better wages; there will be more money to be spent with the groeeryman, more money for shoes and clothing. more for furniture and carpets; the people will live in better houses and real estate will advance, for the man who once drank up his home will pay off the mortgage and his family will live in comfort.
 Another argument against prohibition IS that 1t will cut our revenue down $lu,OOO, and the city could not get along without that. If the expenses of our city and schools must be met with blood money, for one am in favor of rejecting such support, even aL tu6 COSl Ol tciipoiotS suspension but they who make that ar gument overlook the fact that whisky costs more than 1t brings into the treas ury.
 Prohibition would save us at least s2Oo,- GOO a year In the cost of jails and courts One biE murder trial costs more than the revenue from all the saloons In whole year. As an economic problem the argument is every way favorable to pro hibition.
 Effect on Greater Birmingham.
 But now, a nice gentleman has said prohibition campaign at this time will hurt Greater Birmingham. We have tried hard to get the King bill passed aad an election will have to be held. We don't want to dc anything this year for fear it would hurt Greater Birmingham. Some preachers seem inclined to join in that cry So be it. Let the timid and fearful drop out of the fight. God will raise up a Gideon's band for this fight. It Is sure ly coming, and then 1t will be known on which side a man stands. l cannot eon- ceive a greater misfortune to overtako Greater Birmingham than for us to sit still and let Atlanta dump her whisky ele- ment into this city. And that Is thing she is surely arranging to do if we allow the saloons to remain. l am proud or Greater Birmingham. It was necessary that we should have 1t. The future Is big with uncounted possibilities, but let Great CT Birmingham be righteous Birmingham, and then there will be no stain upon her fair banner.
 The Duty of the Hour.
 We have a chance to fight. This Is glorious thing for 1t means liberty and moral freedom. By act of the last leglsia- ture we have a right to hold local ops
 
 Hitherto, we had no such right. l have been waiting nearly five years for chance to enter into fight against the whisky traffic. That chance Is now grant ed, and we will be recreant to the duty or the hour If we fall to make the fight now.
 Someone has said that we ought to make haste slowly; that we ought to be dead sure of winning before going into the fight.
 My experience is that the "dead sure ights'' are the ones that are lost. Over confidence is a great danger. How many young men would get married If they waited until they were dead sure pefofe popping the question? That is the way to be dead sure, and if at first you don't succeed. pop the question again That IS the sure road to success.
 The duty of the hour Is to organize. Every voting precinct in the county must he organized. This means work and some money, but by the help of God, both can be had. Every man must take stand one way of the other. There Is work for women, and children can help The poll tIcians may have hand, if they will. We are going to remember who 1t Is that helps us win this battle. committee has been appointed to arrange details for the coming campaign. If that committee falls to act an independent movement will be started. Rest assured, we are go- ing to have an election this fall.
 Saloon Must Go.
 Success in this fight will be the exal- tation of righteousness in this community. If will remove the stain from our body nolitic. It will be the casting out of blood money. It will be the means Of saving many of our boys. I heard business man say only the other day: 'I came to Bir- ningham twenty years ago with my two little boys. The liquor traffic has claimed one of them, and this fight can't come too soon to suit me-" How many fathers and mothers here are in that same position? Let the voters of the imperial county of Iafferson arise in their majesty and say, "The saloon must go.
 
 Brought Back From Atlanta.
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