The Newark journal., 1908-04-17
DR. LAWTOA ON PROHIBITION
Thinks it the Most Important Matter
 Now Before the Public


 MT. Editor: I want to give three cheers for the Jackson county Democ- racy, and also for the citizens ot Batesville.
 The former should be eulogized for the step they took in their county con- vention on statewide prohibition. And although our county did not pass such resolution, we will have two good men Tn the legislature who will assist in carrying out the movement for state wide prohibition. Our senator, too, judging from his acts in the last legis- lature, can be depended upon along the same line. Edmondson in the sen- ate and Thompson and Brown in the lower house will make q good, strong team on prohibition.
 Why has Batesville not taken steps to rid herself of the. nuisance in her midst long ago? Just why the people of our county seat, with all their in- telligence and refinement, have allow ed the manufacture and sale of intoxi cants to continue so long in their midst, is mystery to many thinking people. It seems strange that two such benevolent institutions as the Odd Fellows Orphans Home. and the Masonic Orphans Home should be To- n uh af1a1 if,fi exist. 1 am told there are over hun dredchildren in the Odd Fellows Home, depending upon the charities of that noble institution, which makes it home indeed for the children. But it is sad to think that they should be raised under the baneful influences that exist so near them, when it might have been abolished long ago by a special act of the legislature prohiting the manufacture or sale of intoXicantS with radius of, say, ten miles, or better still, within Independence coun- ty.
 Now let Batesville take the initia- tory step next fall and start petition in every township in the county, ask ing the legislature to enact law pro- hibiting the manufacture or sale of in- toxicants of any kind in Independence county.
 But, you say, we will have state wide prohibition. That is all true, but local law will not interfere with that.
 No doubt we will have a statewide prohibition law soon after the legisla- ture assemblies, and then an act pro- viding for>an amendment to the consti- tuition prohibiting the manufacture or sale of intoxicants in the state.
 But we cannot rely upon the Anti Saloon League. The peoplemust take hold of the matter themselves. Mr. Tabor, the state superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, is quoted as say ing that he believes Mir. Donaghey will give the temperance people a fair deal. I suppose he meant by that that he would treat them respectfully.
 Mr. Donaghey will be compelled to treat the temperance people with re- pect. When the Democratic state con- vention meets, it will be bound to adopt statewide prohibition plank in the platform, or some other party will do it.
 But it will not stop there. When the national convention meets in Den- yer, it will be petitioned to put a pro- hibition plank in the platform, and if they refuse, the Prohibition party will put out a strong Southern man for president. There are already four Southern states under prohibition laws and the others are rapidly falling into line.
 Arkansas will be the next state to | pass statewide prohibition law.