The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-23
BROKEN LINKS
Varnum Thomas, We-Known and
DeFunak Springs, Florida.

Mr.. Chain, the prohibition candi-
date for president, was on the ground
in Springfield before and during the
riot. He is by no means a man of one
idea He is clear headed and plain
spoken. His words should have
weight. He says:
Whisky caused the Springfield
riot. Whisy caused the negro to COM
NIT the outrage which instigated the
riots. The mob, which sought to
avenge the wronged woman, was COM
posed of simple lot of saloon lOaferS.
Whisky was the cause of it all. In
Springfield the negroes have 5000
votes The big political parties think
they hold the balance of power, au1
both parties, seeking the negro vote,
got down to the level of whisky row.
The effect of this outrage ought to
be the same as that of the race riots
in Atlanta, Ga. They caused Georgia
to vote for prohibition, and I believe
the state of Illinois will go the same.
The riots in Springfield and the re-
sultant damage will cost the city more
money to pay damages than il will re-
Ceive in license revenues in year
This is nothing new to the people
of the south. all who have made any
study of these conditions know tina.
whisky or cocaine play a part m
nearly every brutal outrage. This IS
true of the white, but especially true
of the black, and particularly does
the cocaine curse stamp its mark OF
him. There is probably not lumber
or tUUpentine Camp but is visited at
some time with bootleggers lined with
the stuff. and not infrequentlv tn ase
come from the shops of licensed drug
giStS. And as for the red districts.
drenChed with drugs and drinks. hey
abound in every city and in time Of
trouble form the crucial test of self
government. or rather of democracy
The republic has not vet developed
strength sufficient 10 cope with its
unbTidlFd license That is to sav. i'm
times of crises. it, best is weaker
than its worst. and il will hp so lnuz
as it nurtUTes its worst Let these
sink holes he protected and the tUuic-
ward at any time will be at their mer-
Cy-
Happy the dav when all section
will know what the south has learned
and still has more to learn: that safe
" depends on the removal of all these
disinteerating and degrading factors
birthstone breeds birthstone Given
the cocaine shop and we will nave
the cocaine hend equal to any devil
ment- Given tho saloon and We viii
have tho inOCui5tiOn of all that foi1-ws
in its train in sloth. vice and degeH-
Cracy ready to blaze its way in laAIcss
passion at any time Let 4 city puck
ct hundred thousand dollars for IL
Cense Of evil and it must not on1v
spend it again in trying 70 patch III
the broken places. but in so doing
must waliow in the mire AID shame
Of disgrace as Springfield is ding
today.
Who will he eIected?''
Taft" said a good democrat
"Whv9"
HAS the money"
Now It takes something more than
money TO put a man IN the white
house today Il takes enthusiasm
money cannot create that. II here
were a Hanna 10 manipulate cJ1,i-
ton 10 hypnotic the plain people,
to make white look black or Sack
white to ride rough shod over the NJ
rising movements and gr,wIng con
sciences Of q people. then mhnav
would do the rest But without sTCE
q leader with no special love for the
candidate, with times and conditions
most unfavOTable and with q man On
the other side who is loved ov me
common people there would seem 70
he no reason for a Taft victory nv
less We go to sleep on the moss-grCwn
deluSiOn of whatever IS. must b..
But whatever has been" has EuJ
little hold on the hearts Of the people
today. The plain people will no long