The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-14


 isolated regions who must defend themselves against wild beasts, it will not be seriously questioned when the assertion is made that the pistol has absolutely no value except for target practice--a valuable not especially elevating the weapon to a position of a great necessity. and by no means in- vesting 1t with the importance essen tial to apolcgizing for it's extensive sale and use.
 One of the purposes of the reform proposed Is to inhibit the sale of fire- arms, except under restriction to be imposed, with the design of making 1t unlikely that men will continue the practice of carrying weapons conceal ed in their pockets or in belts.
 It Is proposed to make such sale a misdeameanor in the District of Colum- bia. as 1t is now in Tennessee and other states.
 Students of sociology lave wondered at the tenacity with which the pistol has chung to the latter-day civilization. Tn days past, men of standing engaged in duels. One former president of the United States Andrew Jackson, dig nified the custom, and everyone in formed of his character will 'conce1e that 1t was the practice of the day and not the weakness of the man which made such a thing possible.
 Incidents innumerable might be cited from the pages of the worlds history, and In this country, too. have been instances of the use of the pistol by citizens of eminence. It has seemed to be the rule In many cases that men of highest personal honor have be- lieved they were forced to recognize the pistol as an accessory to their safety, because they kEew others re- sorted to carrying such weapons and thus, from the instinctkof self-preser- vation, laid on one the duty of doing likewise.
 Thus It has transpired that the world has been robbed of the services of genius, and useful lives have been cut off because society had not enacted and enforced rlgidly laws to obvlate such dangers.
 One of the most celebrated diatrlbes against pistol duelllng was uttered by the late George D. Prentice the cele- brated editor of the Louisville Journal fin 1854. Mir. Prentice had taken strong ground against the practice. His language. as always when he wrote. teemed with brilliant phrases and scintillated with flashes of the thought of genius
 About that time. exception was taken to his statements on mooted questions by a citizen of Arkansas, who demand ed that Prentice retract. This the edi- tor refused to do Demand for retrac- ton was renewed, with threats against the writer if he persisted in his re- fusal. When Prentice again stated his intention not to withdraw his remarks. he was challenged to battle lon the field of honor, as the phrase of the day ran. This, worthy to be accept ed as the text of today's reformers of the class herein referred to, was his reply:
 . 'I am no believer in the duelling code. And am not so cowardly as to stand in dread of any imputation on my courage.
 Inasmuch as duelllng was possible by reason of the prevalency of pistol carrying and familiar use, such utili- zation of that weapon happily de- creased gradually, until in these days in this country the duel has become a thing of ememory. It Is believed that further agitation and enactments will do for pistol killing and acfdents what was done for the duello-relegate the pistol to its last resting place, the museum of antiquities, where, prob- ably most norma1-minded persons will admit it belongs.
 Congressman Sims and those who have pledged to assist him in urging his anti-weapon law this winter be- lIeve that certain recent occurances will stimulate thought on the subject. and make it possible for the proposed law to be adopted by Congress-.
 Copyright, 1908. by Frederic J. Has, kin.)
 TomOrrOw---AmerIcan Institute of Architects.