The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-19

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the people who urged the reforms de
manded and desired in behalf of law
and order
If the past be criterian for the fu-
turc, the saloon will dominate and make
abortive the good intentions of the gen
temen who would regulate the saloon.
In the address, in referring to "our
| friends in the country" it Is alleged
that the issue of prohibition is "of no
immediate Importance, for if the parish
goes prohibition, they already have pro-
hibiton. This reasoning is fallacious.
| The citizens of Caddo parish residing
beyond the borders of Shreveport know
full well that if prohibition is defeated
that the wards where prohibition is now
in force will became wet by virtue OF
the operation of the law, and therefore
self-intcrest will dictate their vote for
prohibition.
Our friends in the country for
whom so much solicitule is manifested,
need be apprehensive i'll the implied
| threat of raise of taxation, nor an III
crease of their burdens, all of which is
regulated by law and the acts of each
| individual
The issue is plain.
1t is not possible to minimize it by
sophistry or fallacy.
And it is fortunately true that neither
the progress of a town, or of a parish
or county, or State is dependent on the
saloon AMI other evils for its prosperity
Indeed, the wealth producers are the
toilers in the fields and i'll the work
shops, and these are greater and more
important factors in the development OF
progress and the upbuilding of the
State than the saloons.
If a community be dependent on the
revenue of the saloon, it is III sac
plight and must eventually be absorbed
in ruin and shame Earnestly and can
didly the plea that the revenue from
crime breeders is essential to the MAIN
tenance of city's administration, II
this twentieth century of Christian civ
ilization, is a mocl<ery, a damnable re
Election, to which The Caucasian will
not subscribe.
1t may be conceded that with prohibi
ton in Shreveport the rentals of SOM
properties would be affected. For in
stance, the property o Hapied by saloon
who can afford to pay greater renta
than commercial firms would be de
creased, but such decrease while operat
ing against the owners of the propert,
would prove beneficial to the renter
whose rental is fixed more or less OF
the basis of the value obtained for rem
Of the places occupied by the saloons.
In this issue of prohibition the great
est good to the greatest number Is th
question involved If law and order i
more desirable than lawlessness; /
higher and better morals be preferabl
to rowdyism and to the debasement 0
Hldliklllu, IL piOiilDitloil ID al uPDI''iu>
instead of destroyer; if communlt.
can be improved in a general sense b.
obliterating the saloon, then all argu
ment applied by the opposition from
crcumscribed view of the dollar mus
become abortiye.
!, Shall the saloon be conceded the rlgh
of domination because the revenues de
rived from this evil, or as is claimed b
the ants, is it necessary to the suppor
and the maintenance of the city govern
ment?
!, Every dictate of conscience, of hon
esty of purpose, of higher and bette
f manhood, must revolt at the bare sne
: gestion of higher morals and bette
t government and greater prosperity b'
ing sacrificed for the sake of revenue,
paItry few dollars, as a pretense tor tt
: maintenance of the saloon.
t There can be no compromise or dlvic
ing line in an issue which should appe
I to the best impulses and most laudab
= reasoning of mankind.