The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
SIDELIGHT ON PROHIBITION
The Lawyer, Dreamer, and Travelling Man Give Their
Experiences

} fashion. but did not create the enthusiasm
] had looked for. so I only preached one
- the bottles. which was quickly con
sUmed by the company, who failed 70
give what 1 thought was proper reverence
for this unexpected provision Of good
cneer.
Il was disappointed. nor did the en-
suing encomiums upon my effort AZ the
meeting reconcile me for the spirit of
indifference al my thOUghtfulness fn con
tributing the coutraband 10 the com
pany- I was about % bring forth my
reserves and reDroach the company for
their indifference. when Jim D.. the or
ator q the glassblowers. rang the ben.
/ in response 20 which a venerable old
negro who looked as though he might
have stepped out Of the leaves Of an
aute-bellum novel. came 70 the room
and D. ordered a bottle OF whisky.
hat kind Will sou have sir2' he
/ inquired
There ] had been bringing Goals a
I Newcastle. for IN that prohibition town
/ IA a hotel owned and conducted bv the
/ fe7cest prohibitionist IN the State. an one
/ had 10 do was 70 ring for liquid re-
freshment. and he could get any variety
/ thereof
And I was laughed az when I ex-
I plained the cause OF my confusion.
Your experience said the Travelling
man. IS not unique; not by any means:
bat I thiak an incident or. rather. Sc
ries Of incidents, which came under my
observation a short while since. was
about tke limit. and only b-ief reflection
was necessary 10 convince me that those
temperance people who oppose prohibi-
ton have a reason for the faith that IS
within them
Perhaps you may not know Il. but
Pennsylvania antedated Maine In the
prohibition movement thar IN the mid
Gle OF the last century was assuming the
proportions Il has only recently reached.
but which movement was checked then
halted. and finally reversed by the loos-
ening OF moral restraint marking the war
between the States Maine passed a
prohibitory law IN 1856 whereas Penn
sylvania had then. through legislative
enactment. local option. and II was the
sort OF local option that counts. the reg
Ulation or the sale OF stimulants. when
( permitted. being in the hands Of a county
/ judge
But even local prohibition does not al
I wavs prohibit. as I shall relate. I was
| IN Pennsylvania last year and got 70 a
/ place where the sale Of liquor is under
/ the ban. Not even the hotels could serve
/ guests liquor with meals l had heard OF
/ that town and had been warned 10 so
I time I1y visit that 7 could get hack %
I Harrisburg. re-well-er-which is not
exactly a prohibition city. However, as
I had travelled In Maine and also IA
/ Iowa, I did not. feel concerned at tke
/ prospects OF q drought. nor did 7 even
| take the precaution 20 stock my suit
/ case. as did our friend, the innocent
| dreamer
/ After transacting my business and get
ting individual opinions Of the effects OF
/ the prohibition Ordinance-it was OF re-
cent mintage-I went right 10 the poiR'
with everybody's friend the hotel clerk
/ The real hotel clerk. when he gets 70
know who YOU are. can tell YOU lots about
a town that Is not printed IN the papers
and he told me II I really wanted some
liquor all I had 10 do was to go 10 the
express Office and inquire for a c. o. D.
/ package for William Smith or John Jones
II wanted a quart 7 would ger a John
Jones package. which would cost ne
S1.5o. whereas a Smith ditto would cost
but 70 cents. and would have only a pint
inclosed. 1 got a Smith" and am frank
TO say it was tolersble good liquor al
that. a brand much in vogue in the region
1 rsdiating roundabout Harrisburg
| Maybe that express agent was not
doing a land Office business. The com
pany's Office was diagonaily across the
street from ny hotel. and I watched the
place for an hour or so until train time
and no fewer than eighteen Smiths and
Joneses carried of packages IN that time
/ ''Of course Il was only an ingenious way
70 circUmvent the law. The WHOLESALER
kept the express Office well stocked wiki
packages. the express company got II:
transportation charges. the agent got q
/ beautiful profit with no risk Of loss, nc
license fee to pay. and 10 chance Of In
/ reference ar the hands OF the law. and
my veracious friend. the hotel clerk
told me that more people drank under
the new plan than under the DAYS Of
license.
~MOral2 There isn't any; besides. In
not pointing morals and. adorning tales.
/ am showing how even a moral law ah:
/ It's limitations or observance