Arizona republican., 1908-04-12
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE
 FOR LIQUOR CRIMES
The Blame Rests Upon Voters Who Permit the Possibility of Them?

The following, taken from the Chris tian Evangelist, is reproduced at the request ot Mrs. M. s. Quinn. superin- tendent O. press work. W. C. T. L., Tempe:
 Text:-Ye denied the Holy and Righteous One. and asked for a mur- derer to be granted unto you. and killed the Prince of Life. whom God raised from the dead; whereof We are witnesses. Acts iii, 15-15.
 Jesus of Nazareth ye by the hand of lawless men did cruci- fy and slav. Acts ii., 22-23.
 Who killed Jesus of Nazareth? Who murdered the Son Of God? Who was guilty of that crime which was com mitted on Golgotha? This question, once settled. and settled right was settled wrong in the light of modern saloon ethics. The Roman soldiers alone were not the murderers. AL though they nailed Jesus to the cross and thrust a sword into his side. they were only the agents of Pontius Pilate, the Roman ProcuratOr who command ed tlicensed) il. Pilate was not alone responsible for that crime. After ex- aming Jesus. he said. ''I find no crime in him." But still the mob of the Jews cried out, Cruelty him. Cruci- fy him." Pilate was involvedtin the crime simply because he weakened in the face of public opinion, although he had Caesar behind him. and granted the mob's request. The Inurdcrers of the Christ were the Jewish leaders and their followers. What did they do? They never touched Jesus them selves. But when Pilate still hoping to release Jesus, placed before them Barabbas. the murderer, and asked them to vote whether they would cru cify Barabbas or Christ, they voted to cruelty Jesus. That was all they did just voted for others to do the deed and stood by and watched it done. For this voting. and tEis aloae. the apostle Peter charged them guilty of the murder of the Christ Since that time practically the whole world has held the Jewish leaders responsible for the death of the Son of God.
 Who is responsible for the crimes caused through strong drink? Inn mense sums of money worse than squandered: manhood and womanhood debauched: homes broken up and property confiscated; entire families destroyed: homicides. matricides, frat ricides. infanticides without number somebody must answer before God for these crimes Every daily paper that comes from the press gives us a new list of sorrows, heartaches, woes, mur- ders, all on account of drink. Whose crimes are these? From the man that drinks and murders to the voter who gives his voice in favor of the busi- ness. there is line of responsible parties Taking the scriptural exam pie referrerd to above as a model of ethics in placing responsibility where it belongs. who is to blame for the crimes of wrink?
 l. The Man Who Drinks Is Not Alone Responsible-Society considers him guilty of the crime which he com mits while under the influence of drink. This conclusion is correct, but it is not all the truth. Certainly every man who drinks must know that he enters upon career which will destroy his mind and body and soon render him insensible to the guilt of crime. But after one becomes a victim of drink. still he can purchase liquor in almost any saloon. even when the sa- loonist knows that he is a drunkard and a dangerous man. The habitual drinkers represent the largest part of the customers. Many times the poison is sold for the price when the sales man knows about the woes it will cause.
 H. The Saloonists Are Not Alone Responsible.-They are the licensed committee who can sell the stuff. Like the Roman soldiers, they have the per init to kill by means appointed by the law. Saloonists are more to blame