The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-29
THE TRUTH HURTS
LOCAL WRITER TRIES TO BELT.
TIE EXISTING FACTS BY
cYNIcIsM AND JEERs.
a REVIEW OF HIS soMeAsTIc De
NAL AS PUBLISHED
YESTERDAY.

! columns OIL tnlS paper hIllLeH Us q
| criticism on articles that had appear
ed in previous issue showed through
out a streak of narrow-mindedness or
the part of the writer which reminds
one of the Pharisee of old, who when
Jesus appeared deIuded the public of
their time, with their cynical logic of
much twisted facts. The method OF
using jeers instead Of direct answer
ing OF truth directly illustrates the in
stability OF the grounds taken as a
basis by the author of that article.
1t is again asserted and can be
proven that there is much profit to the
agitators OF the Anti-Saloon League
which is diverted into their pockets
that was never intended to reach that
spot, but were contributed by people
! who though misguided were conscien-
tious in their effort of trying to right
wrong, II wrong existed as represent
ed by those persons who must make
livelihood by creating the idea that
such Is the case Therefore every cir
cumstance that can possibly be made
to look favorable to their side is en-
larged upon and augmented to make
1t gain power as suggestion that will
delude those persons who do not delve
any further than hearsay into the sub
ject, but take the falsiied facts as Civ.
en- by preiudiced authors as the truth.
That their use of prohibition is
means to an end which has not for
It elimination the benefit OF the peo-
pie, individually or as whole, can be
seen in the fact that in territories
where prohibition has been in exist
ance for numbers of years, their or
ganization made a political invasion
and In the primaries of that locality
tried to force prohibition candidate
on the people thus disturbing the
peaceful situation that was existant
in a district that had lost much OF its
vitality and life, since adopting the
prohibition propaganda. There is
naught but logical reasoning in then
making the statement that this agita-
ton Of an established institution, in
America, aye, in the life of the world,
us far back as the ancient biblical his
tory will carry up to the present time,
is but scheme to make public no
turIety and through that private pelf
and political power for many Of those
who are back of 1t.
In the perverted and unfair COM
parison of statistics as to the income
derived by cities from liquor licenses
and to the amount spent in maintain
ing a force to guard its public safety,
the writer again shows weak reason
ing for any sensible person who will
review criminal statistics will find
that alcohol is not the starting point
of the greater percentage of criminal
offenses and not one-fifth OF the po-
lice protection is used to supervise the
liquor traffic or any disturbance that
arises and it only happens to be So
when facts are clipped from an anti
saloon league or religious paper, there
fore the proportionate difference is
VASTLY in favor of the income receiv-
ed in liquor business. The statements
and figures thus presented was mis-
representation of the truth and nm I'M
fair comparison used to prejudice its
readers.
In his illustration OF the conditions
that prevailed at Frisco after the
earthquake he brings out the only
way that prohibition will prohibit anil
that it at the point of the bayonet
and the use OF powder and ball for
1t has been fully in the past shown
that in States where prohibitory laws
have been passed that men still get
their stimulating liquids, and 1t is an
undoubted truth that they will so
continue MS long as God showers his
blessings upon the tillers of the soil
as they bring forth crops OF corn.
wheat, rye and other grain, for as long
as these grains are produced so LONG
will man take advantage Of the use
OF these to manufacture stimilant5.
ana even lhousH ~ we're ~ ths Cost "
life itself they will continue to do 50.
The efforts of those men who would
cram prohibition down the Threats of
citizens, who have constitutional
right to think, read, eat and drink as
they like, will only cause the creation
of circumstances which will make the
majority of the citizens bf this country
/ lawbreakers and will produce mora
drunknrds in the tenth of time that it
does Take when drinking is regulated
and used in the taverns of to-day. For
where man now takes q. moderate
drink at the bar, he will indulge in UNI
limited quantities as he HES himself
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