The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-07-14
National Prohfbiitiionists
Hold Their Contention
BY
STRICT LAWS
And Not Gold Brick Prohibition,
Solution of Liquor Prob
lem Says Gilmore.


Not prohibition that does not pro-
hibit, but sensible and strict regula-
tion is the solution of the licensed
saloon problem, declared Col. n. NJ.
Gilmore, of Louisville, KY, president
and founder of the National Model
License League. in an interesting ad-
dress to the public in the Grand OPP
era house Monday evening.
Col. Gilmore was introduced by
Harvey F. Smith, who said that be-
A fore any proposition before the peo-
pie is passed upon 1t ought to be
carefully weighed and both sides fully
considered and so we must do in re-
gard to the saloon license business.
Col. Gilmore said, in part:
ITO begin with we must realize
that prohibition has two sides to 1t.
The whole theory of prohibition, as
offered by the Anti-Saloon League, is
the biggest gold brick ever offered to
the American people. 1t HAS abso-
lutely no value. Experience has
proved that 1t Is absolutely an i'm
possibility.
The history of prohibition dates
back for centuries and / am surpris-
ed that the Anti-Saloon League peo-
pie have added no new feature to 1t.
II the people OF West Virginia would
enact law prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale OF cigars but not the
use of them 1t would be ridiculous
piece OF legislation as every cigar
smoker would continue to smoke
cigars the same as before. So 1t ih.
with the consumption of alcoholic
beverages.
Prohibition is like wave of some
disease epidemic such as scarlet fever
and the like. Several years ago a
wave of prohibition swept over sew
eral of the states, led by the Anti
Saloon League people, laws were en-
acted and constitutional amendments
added, but all OF the states with the
exception of Maine, where they say
prohibition now is an utter failure,
have either repealed those enactments
OF enacted muck laws.
THE Anti-Saloon League is a re-
markable organization, strong, COM
plete, well directed by well paid,
brainy workers. j do not know how
those officers are elected. No one
voted for them. Nor do know who
pays them, but they get big salaries.
They keep up continuous campaign
and spend millions of dollars direct
Ing it.
81 believe the rank and Ale. and
the women, of that organization are
conscientious in their efforts and be-
lieve the movement is right. But Il
believe 1t is purely political organ
ization.
THE National Model License
League will endeavor to add to any
constitutional amendment in this
state, one prohibiting the purchase
and use of alcoholic beverages. IL
the voter is asked to destroy the
property of our trade we will ask that
these men be compensated and also
to amend that by asking him to vote
to destroy his own, individual right
to purchase and use these liquors.
II am opposed to prohibition ififor
no other reason than 1t asks the peo-
ple to vote for it with the deliberate
intention of violating it.
The reason some people want pro-
hibition is because they can buy their
liquor by mail and have it shipped
to them and 1t costs them less than
10 cents a drink.
Regardless of prohibition not pro-
hibiting, / say the question goes back
beyond the days of Magma Charta and
of Thomas Jefferson. Involved In IL
is the question of human sovereignty
which no government should under
take to interfere with. 1t is small
matter to undertake the destruction
of several million dollars worth of
property, but 1t is much bigger
proposition to undertake to tell the
individual what he shall eat, drink
or wear.
This movement has been made a
quasT-religious movement. Biblical
standpoints are taken. There Is
nothing in the Bible opposing the
sale and manufacture of alcoholic
beverages. but there is much in re-
gard to the abuse of them. There
are thirty-eight places in the Old
Testament where the Almighty either
recommends or commends the use of
alcoholic beverages. In the New
Testament, containing that most
beautiful OF all stories showing the
great human sympathy OF that Man
Of Gallalee. we are told that at the
marriage feast He attended, when
the wine had exhausted. He had ves-
sells brought in and filed with water
which He turned into wine. He
could have turned the wine into water
u He had so desired. But no. He
sympathized with the wedding guests
because their vine was exhausted and