The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-29
MERIDIAN CITIZENS TALK PROHIBITION Difference of Opinion As To
 the Benefits MUCH WHISKY BROUGHT IN Sheriff Says He Has Nine Men In Jail and Keeps About Forty at Work
 On the Public Roads.
 Other Opinions.
MUCH WHISKY BROUGHT IN
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

the campaign which has just begun in Alabama-especially in Birmngham-and every one is asking the question: What will be the result of the prohibition fight?"
 Meridian, be it known, is a prohibition town, likewise Is all this half of the state on the water wagon," ostenslbly; but perhaps not in fact. Meridian is a highly moral city, and remarkably so when one takes into consideration it's close proximity to Bad Birmingham" and Awful New Orleans"
 A Meridian druggist, who is a prohibit tionist, and who sells Peruna to the slc6 and sometimes to picnic parties, remarked to this writer that it would be a good thing for this city if Alabama would close it's liquor stores, for then the thou sands of dollars annually sent from Me ridian to Birmingham and other Alabama markets for liquor would cease to flow out, but would be kept at home. An other gentleman standing by, said: Tt would then go to New Orleans, which will not go dry before the Mississippi river does"
 
 to the question of the benefits of prohb- tion; but the general expression is that 1t does not prohibit. Whisky and beer packages are brought In to Meridian In large quantities-hy freight or by ex- press. The Southern Express company has an entire store room for the recep- tion and distribution of these packages, and there does not seem much trouble to get what one wants in this dry town if he only knows the ropes
 Your correspondent has just talked with Sheriff Temple, who Is a prohibitonst himself, and who thinks prohibition good for Meridian. Asked about that "empty jail" of which so much has been said and written, the sheriff stated that he has only nine prisoners in the county jail at this time, but has about forty on the
 public roads chain gang.
 Chief of Police Bloodworth informs me dozen blind tiger manipulators per
 month. and about as many of the inno-
 cents for drunkenness. He does not claim to be able to detect and capture all the Yiolators. Tthe chief, too, Is a prohlbt- | tionist and says he does not desire to | see the open saloons e-established in | Meridian, and that he would not under | any circumstances police a liquor town or city, having once tried it. Being anxious to learn how such a large liquor traffic is secured by the
 common carriers in Meridian, your cor respondent made inquiry and learned that there are no less than a half dozen
 representatives, here of liquor houses In Birmingham, Mobile Selma and Mont gomery, and that each one is doing a thriving business, and strictly within
 pale of the law. He takes orders for the goods in any quantity. and within twen- 1 ty-four hours the order is filled and the goods are at the Southern Express com panys office here. Of course, this trade 1 involves vast sum of money each year. A prominent business man remarked | this morning: "lf the sale, shipment and use of liquor could be entirea eliminated | from our state. I would rejoice and am sure it would rebound to the wealth and
 morals of Mississippi but the way the traffic is now conducted brings no rev. | enue to our cities, and Is causing an inn mense drain upon the finances of our | people, and I can discover no good re- | sults'
 MT. Tom Lyle, one of the largest mer- l chants and a holder of valuable real es- l tate here, expresses conviction that even the present pTOnlDltlOI ldWS anu tio l enforcement thereof are proving vastly beneficial to Meridian; and he is in favor of making the law still more strenuous. 1 He opposes the liquor traffic. wants it totally annihilated and thinks that would
 be best for wealth, morals and general | advancement.
 MT Percy Scott, resident agent of the 1 Armour Packing company, which said | corporation has large real estate and | ipt hara
 "The open saloon would be better for | Meridian than the present outrageous sys- l tenn of wildcat manipulation and the | so-called club. There have been sent many
 bright young men from here to the Kee- ley institutes. and some of them to abso- ! lute destruction. l know this to be so for I have seen it with my own eyes. | Prohibition does not prohibit and to my
 mind It's moral force Is indeed question
 able"
 l MT. C. NJ Rubbish, the largest contrac- | tor and builder in this city, says that { he has much difficulty in keeping young
 mechanics and laborers whom he employs
 sober. They buy liquors by the package l because they cannot get 1t by the drink | or by the small bottle as Is the custom
 In "open' towns and even In dispensary places. He expressed himself as rather | favorable to the dispensary idea. but be- | lieves the open saloon preferable to the
 present system of so-called prohibition. l MT. l.. H. Arky, prominent merchant l and real estate owner, expresses his De- 1 lief that the present prohibition law has | proven of great value to Meridian, and | he would not. under any circumstances have 1t changed Said he: "Since the law was established the working men are buying more clothes and the town IS l growing | Of course the preachers and the good women of this city are opposed to the open saloon, but I am not sure that they are satisfied with the system Of liquor
 dealing which here prevails.
 | Chief Bloodworth states that negroes are chiefly in evidence fin the wildcat | trade here but that 1t often occurs that | the officers detect white men at the head | of them For instance, white man orders from the liquor agent five-sallon l ing. bottles 1t and hands 1t out to the i negroes for retail distribution and thus | both make immense profit and the mar ket is fully supplied.
 Notwithstanding this iniquitous traffic 1 arrangement here, Meridian Is growing 1 every year and the people are now hope | full. This Is a clean little city, with a | ma ynif1cent citizenship. Churches and | schools. handsome residences and sub | stantial business blocks give an attrac- J five appearance and please the eye of | the visitor.
 This goodly city deserves absolute pro-
 hibition. if it could only be had.