The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-12
PROHIBITION FIGHT COMING THIS FALL !. SAYS DR. 4. R. MOORE Sermon Outlines Arguments
 for and Against the
 Liquor Traffic
NO SYMPATHY WITH
 THOSE FAVORING DELAY
Believes Town Will Be More Pros porous and That Property Val ues VIII Be Increased by
 Prohibition.

"The Whisky Problem in Birmin gham and Jefferson County" was the subject on which the Rev. Dr. A R. Moore spoke at the II o'clock service at tn First Christian church yesterday morn ing. Dr. Moores sermon is intended as an index to the arguments and difficult ties which are expected to present themselves In the prohibition fight | looked for this fall. The arguments for and against prohibition are pre- scented in the discourse, but the pastor urges his congregation to hearken to the call, "The Saloons Must Co.," Dr. Moore took his text from the thirty-fourth verse of the fourteenth chapter of Proverbs: Righteousness to any people" The pastor began by stating that when people are con- fronted by problem the only thing to do is to face 1t openly. squarely and honestly, and said that this is what lie intends to do in the fight. which he says will come. Continuing he said:
 The Problem.
 That we are confronted by problem cannot be denied. The question, What 1 shall we do with the liquor traffic?" is upon all lips. Everybody realizes that something must be done. Even the liquor men themselves are saying that the suspense is too great for them, and something should be done at once. In that, they are righy Give the liquor dealer his dues. If you are goins to put him, out of business, let him know it so that he may look out for some other way in which to make living.
 We are not trying to injure men; but we do hate this business and we would, if we could, save the men who are in it, for they too have souls, and must go to judgment. Let it be un- derstood then that this fight is personal to the devil, who has robbed us of some of our brightest and best young men, whom we now seek to save.
 One man says, let the liquor traffic alone. The people want their liquor and are going to have it. The business is strongly entrenched and you cannot overcome it. Let it alone and spare yourself all of the trouble and expense that may arise from agitating the ques- tion. Evil asks nothing better than to be let alone. But conscience forbids. This thing we call conscience Is a mighty disturber. It gives us no rest until we either kill it, or reform. Con science forbids that we let the liquor traffic alone
 Question of Dispensary.
 Another says, put in the dispensary Take away the profits from the busi- ness, by putting 1t into the hands of | responsible men, who shall be duly and officially appointed for that purpose But experience with the dispensary in other places Is not altogether pleasing. Besides, dspensary whisky makes drunk, the same as any other kind, and in government control, the people who make the government become respon- sible for the crime that flows from the business.
 Another advocates high license. As a Christian man, I cannot favor any | license, high or low. High license might result in placing the business in thc Hdhdo VI d lCN DuI tudl WOulQ OHly make 1t more respectable, and it is our business to tear the robes of respecta- bility from the business that lies at the foundation of ninety per cent of the crime cofnmitted, and let the people see the skeleton in its true character. l The only real and final solution of this great problem Is the absolute pro- hibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. And today, we are upon the crest of a great tidal wave of prohibition popularity. He is blind indeed who does not see the opportuni- | ty of the hour
 Objections to Prohibition. I Certain objections have been offered to prohibition. which we must, in fair ness, consider.
 l It has been said that prohibition does not prohibit. If prohibition did not prohibit, the whisky men would have little ground for fighting it. But the | truth is. 1t does prohibit. I put that question to the chief of police the other l day, and he said, "a prohibition law could be enforced as we'll as any other | law"
 Again, 1t has been said that it takes away the peoples rights. Of course it takes away certain privileges that have been called rights" The tax on dogs does that. The new game law encroaches upon many rights hitherto claimed by the people. But such laws 1 serve the good of the largest number of people and are necessary laws. prohibition law would take away the right to make drunkards, thieves gamblers and murderers.
 Do you say that 1t Is not fair to charge these sins up to the traffic? l answer that statistics show that 90 per cent of the crime committed is traceable to the infiunece of liquor. would be false to the facts if I did not lay these crimes at that door. In the recent street car strike in this city the mayor very wisely ordered all saloons closed. On the morning of the third day after that order became effective there was not single case in the police court. thing unheard of in the his tory of the Birmingham court. No. the good of the largest number demands that certain so-called rights | be surrendered.
 Injury to Business. But, "it injures business and will cause depreciation in property values." That