The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-12-24

ludliE, from winch Tue CITY ODtdiiltu
revenue of $4,000. He did not under
stand that kind of fnancierng. but h
believed that the greatest portion Of tn
amount which is spent for intoxicant
would go into more profitable channel
of trade if prohibition were maintained
Judge Webb was frequently applaud
ed during his speech.
He was followed by Mr.. v Gros Jean
whose address is published in this ISSUE
Of The Caucasian.
The next speaker was Rev d. Sum
rell of the First Baptist church. In the
course of his remarks he said:
In minglng and talking with people
one finds a variety of objections raised
to this movement.
We are told that prohibition infringes
upon personal liberty. But we heard the
other night from Judge Bell quotations
from the supreme courts Of several
States and from the Supreme Court of
the United States the affirmation that no
man has the natural and inalienable,
constitutional right to retail liquor. That
one to do so must have the consent of
the people among which he proposes to
carry OH his business.
| Liberty is a word too loosely spoken
and a principle often too unreasonably
contendei for. 1t must always be quail
fed. There is no such thing as absolute
unrestricted liberty. Every parish of
ficer, every law book, every prison
house, every Judge upon the bench bears
testimony to that fact. There are laws
against tnscreened clSternS. against the
erection of frame houses in congested
precincts, against the dangerous speed
of automobiles, and against many other
things. Liberty is relative term and
its restriction here and there is the only
hope of well-regulated community.
We are told that prohibition will re
strain prosperity. | do not doubt the
honesty of those who say this. But is it
true? 1t has been said Portland Maine,
is a dead city And yet its increase in
population between 1850 and 1000 under
prohibition was I per cent, while the
increase of Atlanta, Ga, for the same
period was but little over the same
figure, and the increase in Mobile, Chat
tanooga, Lexington, KY, and Charlotte,
S. c., during the same years was less.
| came here from little town in Ken
lucky of 6ooo people. 1t had three pros
porous bar: banks ;tr, four M large dry goods
has not had an open saloon in twenty
years. Recently it installed first class
sewerage system and before that put III
an up-to-date waterworks system draw
ing its supply four miles distant; and
yet taxation is not oppressive. 1t needs
but three policemen and eighttenths of
the crime that comes before its courts
is hatched out in little village four
miles distant where there is the open
saloon
And the testimony of merchants and
bankers in Jackson, Miss, is to the eff
feet that prohibition has in no wise hurt
trade OF retarded the prosperity of their
city, and that its morality has been en-
| hanced.
1t is also said we must have the reve-
nue., that our city can not pay its obliga-
tions without it.
Who says that? The brewerymen who,
am told pay 10000 of this saloon tax.
But is it fair to permit the business to
take over its. counters a million dollars
in a year, and then come back to the
people who pay it and say: You can not
maintain your city without the tax we
pay you for this privilege
Some of the gentlemen who tell us
this revenue is necessary, are leaders II
this community, men of position ant
large means. But for the most par
these men are not the men who frequen
the saloons Or contribute to the making
of this enormous annual liquor bill. |
is the poor man. the wage-maker Wh'
buys his liquor in small amounts.
What then is the real meaning of thl
statement. that the city must have tn
e saloon tax in order to maintain itself
l Does it not say to all intents and pur
Y poses: This city to pay its annual bill
must have this $4,000, and you wage
e earners must pay it >
t do not believe Our friends OF tn
e opposition in the sending forth OF the'
5, address to the voters of this paris
meant to say that. | do not believe the
e want to lay this burden on the man
e little means and no means. Some OF tt
e gentlemen | know too we'll to for nlt
is ment think that. But does it not III rea
# ity amount to that?
% 1t makes me sad to have the tar nan
IS of our city maligned. And yet, when yc
sift this proposition to the bottom, 1t ca
le mean nothing else than that. They f
re and near who have heard of our grow