Times-promoter., 1908-02-14

frequently holding and exercising tine
balance of political power. Those who
become its benefciaries, regardless Of
platforms, are generally found to be in
full sympathy and accord with the liquor
interests and obliyious of its crimes.
This pernicious political influence makes
absurd their claim of saloons being a
local question.
Besides, the people of the whole state,
through their legislature, determine
what acts are so harmful as to be pro-
hibited by fine and Imprisonment. While
this power, in some instances, may be
delegated to a county, such delegated
authority can, at any time, be rightfully
revoked and the prohibition made equal.
ly applicable everywhere. In principle,
nothing can be said in favor of leaving
to the different counties the liquor ques-
tions, that cannot be said with equal
force in behalf of gambling, pistol car
rying and other offenses. On the con-
trary, the evil effects of liquor selling ex.
tend beyond county lines even more in
juriously than other crimes.
While it can be said that prohibitory
laws do not absolutely prevent viola
tions, the same is true of all other laws.
If the mere enactment of penal
statute that would prohibit all future
violations and complete protection of So
ciety could be thus secured, courthouses
and public officials would become a use-
less expense. In Mississippi unlawful
retailing is generally less frequent than
gambling or carrying concealed weapons.
None but anarchists contend that Grim
inal laws tempt commission of what
they prohibit, yet human nature is the
same in its results and workings in re.
gard to all classes of acts The men,
the money and the literature that are
being used by the liquor manufacturers
and dealers for this bitter and relentless
war against prohibition prove they do
not believe in the slightest that prohi-
bition does not greatly lessen the use
of stimulants. The saloons, the nursery
of crimes, the fruitful soil of the germi-
nation of successive crops of drunkards
and the worst enemy of homes, of wife
and child, should be speedily closed.
The State Possesses unquestionable .
Right.
Upon this question, the Judgment Of
the dry counties as to what is good
within their borders is to be made equal
ly applicable to the whole state. The
right of the majority to voice public
policy is even more unquestionably pos.
se3sed by the state than by it's smaller
subdivisions; and it's condemnation of
the liquor traffic being clearly expressed,
it is for us to make it effective Method
and time are the only real questions
for discussion.
When licenses are shortened return
can be made for the proportion of time
unexpired. While some consideration
should be shown for those whose capital
is thus invested, it should not be for.
gotten that such consideration should
not cause us to lose sight of the suf-
fering the traffic hourly brings to in
nocent people. If prohibition is made
purely statutory foreign liquor dealers
and their home sympathizers will at
tempt to renew the question before every
For this reason we SHOULD
also have constitutional amendment
submitted so that only the people car
undo what they once determined.
Next August nominations will be
made for municipal officers in the liquor
The saloon interests will
unite in most determined effort to con.
troll these elections and to have their
friends chosen for offices entrusted with |
the enforcement of the law, hoping thus
to obtain legal immunity during the
closing days--of saloons, which they can
thus make vastly profitable. Not only |
this, but many of the liquor sellers will
become connected with saloons in ad-
joining states, through which they will |
seek to provide, by aid of blind tigers,
liquor to their former customers, and to
thus evade and discredit the laws Of |
our state.
The real friends of statutory prohi,
Dition should not permit themselves to
be defeated or delayed by differences of
views as to the time of putting the law
in full effect. The question should be
Drought UP for speedy action. BY amend
nents, the voice of the majority can be
EASILY and quickly ascertained, and then
Ill should unite in attaining the general
result. Our legislations, and the well
sare of the state, will be promoted by
pressing statutory prohibition to set
slement at the earliest practical mo-
nent
Saloons More Prolific Than Blind Tigers.
That regulation of the liquor traffic
loes not regulate the usual manner of
conducting liquor business clearly proves.
BY sales to drunkards, to minors, and
through other prohibited acts, saloons
ire more prolific, ordinarily, than blind
,igers. Both cater to mercenary pur-
,oses and to the creation and ratifica.
ion of bestial instincts, furnishes what
,aralzyes reason and infames passion.
When to this is added lascivious sugges-
ions liquor vendors fit the worst men
or the worst crimes. How far this can
70 is shown by an indescribable cal
'ndar issued by negro saloon keeper
n Vicksburg, a copy of which is held |
~ the chairman of the house commit
zee on liquor traffic. That saloon