The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-04-10
\ sALooNLEss CITY.

Columbia was the hASN 49,
nessee having a population OF over
600. TO abolish its saloons. lne
sa,oons we're closed on March 81, 1907
and prohibition has been on trial IN
this community for just one year II
u,u no a source of qualification 10
ovorv +emperance advocate IN the
state to know that the results nave
more than justified the experiment.
# is safe to say that never again WIN
ho fair name of this Christian COM
munity be stained by granting
cense 70 liquor dealer. The saloon
has gone from Columbia and Maury
county forever.
Figures published in our news COZ
umns prove that the absence OF Tue
saloon during the first year has re-
duced crime more than one-halt, anu
the arrests for drunkenness have been
less than one-third of what they were
n,itb the omen saloon. Court costs
have been reduced in the county, anu
tbe dockets of our criminal court pear
eloouent testimony to the success Oh
the experiment.
From a material standpoint the re-
sults have fully justified the tondesC
homes of the temperance advocates
business has increased very percepti-
bly during the past twelve monVns'
Dasnite the financial stringency bank
denosits are larger today than they
were a year ago; the postal recelptS
chow substantial gain and the mer-
obants report most satisfactory
trade. While the prohibition adVo-
Gates have always placed the man
above the dollar and have never urged
prohibition because of the material
benefits To be enjoyed, it is neVertne-
less gratifying to know that the talacy
Of the liquor mems argument Vha'
GRASS would grow in the streets ana
prosperity would seek other cliliie'
when the saloons were abolished, mas
been exploded in this community
These, however, are largely the ma
terial results that have followed tne
abolition of the saloon. But there are
higher and better and nobler achieve
ments than these. Prohlbltlon mas
improyed the morals of the communl-
~. If has reduced crime; II mas
onened the door of hope to many
wretched victim of the drink haolV
and it has placed the greatest destroy
or Of all the ages beyond the tempea'
ton of many of our young men
We NAV be able to definitely ascer-
tain the material benefits when nave
coma from a saloonless city; but the
Infinite One alone knows the peace
Of mind and the JOY that has come TO
the many mothers and wives by rea-
son If the inability of their sons and
husbands to poison their MINDS anu
dahauch their brains with drink
MANY homes in Maury county nave
known more happiness and greater
neace during the past year than nave
been their portion in all the years
that have gone before.
The saving of one human soul; tne
bringing of JOY to one heart-oroken
mother; the rescue of one fallen man
would be abundant compensation TOT
ALI the work and all the prayers ana
all the efforts of the noble men anu
consecrated women-God bless them
tn whom credit Is due for the ellm-
nation of the drink evil But When
in this broad land OF ours we nnu
countless souls saved from the awtul
abyss of sin; good mothers and wives
without number made happy and thou-
sands of men rescued from the aWlul
end thai awaits the inebriate, all be-
cause of the temperance crusade, tho
of MS who contributed our best efforts
to attain this end may be pardoneo
80 we indulge in a bit of self congrat-
ulation.
Rut above and beyond all OF the hu-
man efforts that have been made, creulO
for the victory is due to Him VINO
rules the Universe; His omnlpotent
hand has guided and directed US
His ear has heard our prayers ana
His grace hath sustained us Praise
God from Whom all Blessings Flow.