The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
A Prohibitionist's View.

| Editor OF The Times Dispntch:
Slr,--Yo,ir comment on my letter re-
garding the liquor traffic in last Sunday 5
| Times Dispatch deserves consideration.
You say "the temperance people" to
whom you refer are those who take u
practical view of the liquor traffic"
Then. doubtless as an illustration, you
say they know that in the largo cities
liquor will be sold and consumed, and
they prefer that 1t be done under the
regulations and restrictions OF the law
than in lawless blind tigers"
Evidently your conception of practical
temperance is reflected by those who
knowingly and willingly become ''par;i-
cops crimnis" in the liquor business.
rather than see 1t continue in violation
OF law and without their sanction and
cooperation. We'll. some people are not
satisfied unless they have q share in all
that trnnspircs.
But why not extend that practical
idea? Why limit it's operation to the
saloon? Take gambling and stealing, both
legitimate offspring OF the saloon. No
one will deny that they continue and
flourish in our cities in direct opposition
to law Would It not DO far more "prac-
tical" TO license and regulate those vices
than TO Witness their daily occurrence In
ltwless blind tigers? II not, why not2
OF course, that inevitable 'particeps
crtnIns" would follow. and some i'm
practical, conscientious person i, ould OBJ
ject. But all the host OF practical IL
cense voters should cnthuae over tho
plan. 1t has been my Observation that,
IL perchance. outlawca vice flaunts itself
occasionally, then practical license
voters become greatly agitated. But
when tho same vice becomes legal!zcd
and regulated Il remains ,
oppose the license policy to take hand.
Bishop Potter. of New York. reached the
acme OF SO called practical temperance.
He reached the summit and descended
with minus as the proper sign of the re-
suit. Bishop Potter believes in iicens-i
ing the liquor traffic. He casts his bal
lot for a political party committed TO
that policy. He even became sponsor
for Gospel saloon in New York. Ho
opened 1t, or more properly dedicated 1t,
In his clerical garb. For doing all that
he was greatly censurcd. But he was
consistent after all Not consistent with
Christian principle. moral ethics or COM
mon senae! but certainly consistent with
his politics.
II 1t Is right to vote for q political
party tho election OF which Tho voter
knows VIII insure the licensing OF saloons,
then defy any ono to prove that 1t Is
not eminentiy right and proper for such
a voter to invoke the Divine blessing
upon LIE result OF his ifhtsft-3 "
licensed saloon. Bishop Potter was GER
tainly consistent.
You sneak OF blind tigers: well, there
are sixteen blind tigers In New York
state under license to one In Maine
under prohibition.
Again. Maine with prohibition since
1885. has $4,000 more bank depositors
than Ohio with license has, and Ohio has
six times more population. l fear 1t will
take the Maine voters long time TO
become practical"
Now. Mr.. Editor, ! have taxed your
patience too much. Will frankly confess
that I do not believe you will publish
this. because the irsdescent beauties of
the practical" license system do not
show up we'll in what I have writ
ten. However. / will hope for your
once more and thank
you for your generous courtesy OF the
past Yours, ETC.,
VIM. w. BRADBEER.
Mt. Vernon. n. Y.
I'VE cannot discuss the prohibition
n,Iestion with nnv man who nuts liolor |