The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-02-14


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 ever more unquestionably pos
se1sed by the state than by its smaller
subdivisions; and its 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 enew the question before every
legislature. For this reason we should
also have a constitutional amendment
submitted so that only the people can
undo what they once determined.
Next August nominations will be
made for municipal officers in the liquor
municipalities. The saloon interests will
unite in a 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 eyade and discredit the laws OF
our state.
The real friends of statutory prohi.
bition should not permit themselves to
be defeated or delayed by differences of
views as to the time of putting tho law
in full effect. The question should be
Drought up for speedy action. BY amend.
ments, the voice Of the majority can be
easily and quickly ascertained, and then
all should unite in attaining the general
result. Our legislations, and the vel
fare of the state, will be promoted by
pressing statutory prohibition to a set
Element at the earliest practical mo.
ment.
Saloons More Prolific Than Blind Tigers
That regulation of the liquor traffic
does not regulate the usual manner Of
conducting liquor business clearly proves.
BY sales to drunkards, to minors, and
through other prohibited acts, saloons
are more prolific, ordinarily, than blind
tigers. Both cater to mercenary pur'
poses and to the creation and r~atifca'
lion of bestial instincts, furnishes what
pa~ralzyes reason and inflames passion,
| When to this is added lascivious sugges'
hions liquor vendors fit the worst men
for the worst crimes. How far this car
go II, shown by an indescribable cal
endar issued by a negro saloon keeper
in Vicksburg, a copy of which is held
by the chairman of the house commit
tee on liquoc traffic. That saloon
keeper, although this matter has beer
brought to public attention through the
press, was and is vNuched for by the
authorities Of v~icksburg as a citizen Of
good reputation, and q sober and suit
able person to receive sgch license
without such approval he could mol
have entered the business. He wa.
doubtless the imitator Of ONE whit,
men in the same line Of bgsine ~. Il
that calendar does not prove th&t tn,
safety OF the women of Our states de
mands the speedy closing Of the sa
looms, then such proof is indeed diff
cult.
Such laws should be enacted as will
enforce gamblers in futures, carriers o.
concealed weapons and liquor sellers IA
reform. or to be removed from oppor
t~unities Of evil by providing for then
a speedy, short and sure road to prison
+. +. NOEL