Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-02-28
THE BYRD BILL.

THE BYRD BILL.
We suppose the Byrd Bill regulating
the sale of liquor will pass. We are
| indifferent to it one way OF the other.
| We have never sought to MAKE people
good by law and having lived in Kan
sas some years where prohibition was
rampant, and where Carrie Nation a f
forwards grew rampant, We have little
litter. But We have no objection to a
test or trial being made IN Virginia. 1t
strikes US. however. as peculiar
morality which pursues the theme of
Temperance" SO holly, seeing nothing
to change in our make up, save in
abrldging The rights of people to have
or use any alcoholic beverage, even to
CIDER. and at the same time permit
ting such beverages as Coaco Cola and
Others full of dope. 1t seems stranger
still that great petitions should be sent
to Congress to put tue District of Co
Iumbia on the prohibition list, and
that thousands of people in Washing
ton should be button holipg Congress
men on the same subject. and never
once opening their mouths about the
other dens of iniqulty so prevalent
there. There are said to be as many
houses of ill fame in Washington as
saloons, some assert there are three
times as many. These are usually on
side or back streets, and in alleys,
whilst tine saloon must be where it can
be seen and to some extent controlled.
If ole place of vice is to be closed why
not another? and If il is really moral
ity that moves, then it should not
move IN one thing and remain I'M
moved in another. In SUaunton We
have been astonished that Intoxicating
liquors constitute the only visible vice
those seeking the aid Of the law wish
to cure. If ever word has been said
or a movement made in Stauuton to-
close habitations OF vice as well known
as the best known bar room, we have
not heard of it. IL seems, therefore,
that what is done under the law such
as selling liquor is, a greater crime in
their eyes than other vice not legalized.
If the other places of vice were licens-
ed, they would be stormed doubtless,
though they might not be half SO nu
merous as now. This is strange NOR
alitY.
Now the bar and the bagnio do not
stand in the same category so far as
we see morals. There are many people
who do not regard the tax ing of a
drink as wrong per Sc. aud therefore
Can enter bar without moral obliq u j.
ty. But this cannot be said of the
bagniO. We see, however. in cities lk 9
Washington marching throngs who
would Carrie Nation every bar in
the city, but who condone other vices,
at least make no War Oh them. This
has led to the opinion, that mauy align
themselves with prohibition more be-
in the sale Of liquors, on account of the
ease with which he seemingly grows
rich, than from any great moral up.
heaval. There is undeniabIy spirit
in the great bulk of people TO destroy
opportunities for getting money rapid
ly, and the impression is that those en-
gagged in the sale of liquor always do
get rich quick. There is also spirit
among US which will deny a man the
right TO do legally, what be ought to.if
| he does 1t at all. do unds 81 The law OF.
ten in prohibition States illicit sale OF
liq uors is winksd at, aud if male by
some poor creature who ekes out
thereby mere living is allowed, when
il the sales were permitted by law the
Salvation A my would beat drums and
hold services right in front of the
door, and yet the Salvation Army
Captain would know as well where il
liclt sales took place, as where the
saloon sign was posted, but be would
never touch them. The ouly little
thing we see in the Byrd Bill, The thing
particularly small, is the Cider Clause.
| With thousands Of bushels of apples
falling before they ripen and nothing
for which they can be used but cider,
to deny the right to make it. and sell
it, is too little to be seriously treated.
and must make the bill laughable.
Some liar has written that Mr.. Bryan
, is writing and speaking to put money
| in hi pock of oplv MT that he has aDV