Middletown transcript., 1907-09-14
LIQUOR MEN CRY FOR A SAVIOR
aPr0hibition Progress Moves Like Prairie
Fire. saws .Innrnal

! sPr0hibiti0n Progress Moves Like Prairie
| Fire." says Journal
CHICAGO, September 1.-The Associated
Prohibition Press, which circulates news
relating to prohibition, in its most recent
circular reprints, with apparent delight.
an article from Bar and Buffet, liquor
journal, admitting that prohibition was
gaining ground.
That the mol lement is gathering
strength like prairie fire and spreading
almost as fast and relentlesslY," is admit
ted by the Bar and Buffet Here is what
the Associated Prohibition Press says:
"That Georgia victory looms up more
and more menacingly to the liquor press
the longer they think about it.
"Now comes Bar and Buffet for August
September, one OF the leading and most
influential leaders in the movement for
reform in the saloon business with a
blast upon its rams horn that swells the
warning note of Beverages to shrill
pibroch of alarm.
"CIear across the top OF the cover page
of this issue the editors have flashed in
huge display type the words:
What Shall We Do to be savedP"
"The editorial comment on an inner
page betrays the motive behind this as
tonishing paraphrase of Scripture. The
liquor trade is not repenting; there is no
evidence Of conversion in the editorial
discussion. Not conversion, but desper-
ate resolve to prevent the trades inver-
sion and extinction is the manifest senti-
ment.
"Here is what Bar and Buffet says
under the editorial headline. What
Shall We Do to be Saved?
Georgia has gone dry. Another great
state has placed the ban upon the liquor
traffic. Furthermore, those who profess
to be able to read the handwriting on
the wall say that all the rest of the
southern states will follow suit.
4" "'That is the condition that confronts us.
It is an undeniable and concrete fact. The
PrOhibitiOnists are gaining ground steadily
and rapidly.
"Whie our ranks are torn by inter
necine strife, while the straight whiskey
people and the rectifers are fighting each
other, while the wine men are pulling
one way and the brewers another, the CO.
horts of total abstinence are marching
steadily OH.
"In their ranks there is unity, we'll
defined aim, ,singleness of purpose, enthus-
iasm, and they all work together. In
our ranks there is none of these. Instead,
all is confusion. We are not only doing
nothing to oppose the enemy, but we are
playing into their hands by fighting
among ourselves.
Every thinking man Of the liquor in
terests knows that this is true. The pic
ture is not overdrawn. Prohibition is no
longer remote possibility, but menac-
ing probability. The movement is gather
ing strength like prairie fire and spread
ing almost as fast and relentlessly.
And it is our fault. We have been blind.
We have refused to see. We would not be-
lieve. Now we have to. We cannot longer
evade the issue.
The whole trouble lies in the retail
end of the business. Certain customs,
usages and practices which OBJ
tain among the wholesalers, brewers and
distrillers, and which we hear SO loudly
criticised, as are nothing when COM
pared with the disreputable saloon.
" Tt is the dive-the doggery-that is
poisoning the business-the saloon with
The sitting room attached, the saloon
hat caters to thugs and thieves. 1t
must go. And the liquor interests must
'peed its going, or in the end go with it.
There is no alternative. There must be
10 temporizing or delay. We either cast
t overheard and save ourselves or we all
70 down together. Which is it going to
,e P"*