The Columbus journal., 1908-07-08
SALINE COUNTY DEMOCRAT.

WILDER, Neb., June 8, 19OS.-Gentle'
men: The coming struggle over the
liquor question should be approached
with the greatest moderation and for
bearance on both Sides.
The manufacture and sale of bev.
erage that has been in use as far back
Is authentic history goes, and ages
before the dawn of Christianity. can
no more be prohibited by statute law
because the depraved appetities of a
few bring discredit upon those who
supply the public demand for it than
can the preaching Of the gospel be
prohibited because the vicious pro-
pensities of small percentage of min
listers and the excuses of their pat
rons bring contumely upon the whole
church. by transgressing upon divine
as we'll as civil law. To my iconO-
elastic mind both are in the same
class-there for the money that Is
in 1t.
In my opinion. the Slocumb law of
Nebraska is the best form Of regulat-
ing the liquor business that has yet
been devised. It has stood the tests
of the courts for years and where any
reasonable effort towards its enforce
ment by the local authorities has been
made, 1t has given almost general sat
isfaction. Witness the jubilation of
the dry" forces at the result of the
recent spring elections. 1t gives each
community local option. To tamper
with 1t would be tempting Providence.
because the Introduction of just one
innocent-looking little Joker" by some
adroit schemer might lead from order
~ regulation to absolute chaos.
Prohibition has been adopted in a
number of the southern states just Ito
keep the niggers from getting it." If
adopted here, it will be the white man
of limited means that will be the
greatest victim. In many localities 1t
would be those colonies of hard-wOrk-
ing, law-abiding and thrifty citizens
who have been accustomed to the
moderate use of malt beverages from
childhood. The fellow who has got the
price will get all he wants anyway,
wholesale by case or cask, and make
no bones about it. And won't 1t be a
pretty spectacle to see the tramping
hoboes with q capital of ten cents go
to the place across the street and rub
shoulders with the sanctimonious
Pecksniffs who yowl prohibition and
affect to scorn the open saloon, but all
the time take their nips on the sly in
the back room of the "dispensary?"
My memory of history may have be-
come a little defective through ad-
vancing years. but to the best of my
recollection, whenever it has come to
a downright contest between the "puri.
tans" and their more brOad-minded
fellow men, it has generally been the
self-righteOus that have done the emf
grating.
Better let well enough alone" 1t
is my firm belief that the present agi-
tation has been started by self-seeking
politicians only to distract the atten-
ton of the people from far more sert-
Gus evils.
1t is universally conceded that COM
mercial exigencies and educational in
huences are steadily advancing the
temperance cause. Let these good in
fluences continue, but from an acri-
I'VE WON'T" with its personal recrim-
monious campaign of You will" and
nations and long enduring animosities,
Good Lord deliver US.
One WHO has been through the Cru
SADIE" o. the early seventies and the
hard-fought campaign o. Ao.O ought to
have formed decided opinions about
the futility of well-meant but impracti-
cal misunderstanding, John
knight, Editor and Publisher.