The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-05
DOW, JR., AGAIN.
Further Discusses the Question Of
Prohibition and Replies to the
Editor Of the Newberry
Observer.
To the Editor Of The State:


fenses at the door of the so-called
prohibitionist. He made several as
sertions of facts, stood ready with
proof, and asked the so-called to eth
er deny or disprove them. The New
berry Observer, rabid prohibition
paper, undertook to discuss, or rather
deny, them, but instead Of doing So,
in his usual manly and lucid style,
ran off into platitudes, simply deny
ing this, and evading that, until his
whole would-be arguments wound up
in just talk, or it amt so' and eff
it is even so, what does it matter.'
Dow, Jr., never makes an assertion
Of fact, without standing by ready to
back it up with facts. Ridicule Ct an
opponent or a simple denial Of facts,
are not argument. The Observer, to
have been consistent and brave,
should have said, "Those questions
are beyond my ken, arguments beyond
my depth, the whole matter beyond
my understanding" or to use home
ly phrase, II acknowledge the corn. -
The Observer in closing gave Dow,
Jr., some good advice, as to how he
should use his "facile and funny
pen" in future, and he accepts it in
the spirit in which it was given. Dow,
however, reserves the right to stick
that "funny pen,'' into the hide of
hypocrisy, deception and injustice,
wherever those shinging virtues lift
their head.
In closing this discussion with the
Observer, I hope it will pardon Dow
for giving it a little advice, and beg
that the advice will be taken IN the
spirit given. Take your pen out of
the cess pool Of liquor and turn it In
more noble channels; don't fight
against the progress and welfare of
your town, but help to build it up.
Don't think so much Of the money
bags of the boys now living, and those
yet unborn; they will take care OF
themselves. Speak a good word now
and then for the women and the girls.
Think something of their health and
comfort, and not so much about taxes
and booze. Don't ever again fight
against the improvements Of side
walks and streets, and the lighting OF
the same, and even say good word
about the graded schools: Above ev-
erything else, don't ever use that
brilliant and useful pen against pure
water for the wome., and girls. and
the healthfulness of perfect sewer
age. Don't. This is not intended to
be funny, and I have no doubt can be
read and understood without the
shedding Of tears even with the "acld
Of an onion. >
A word or two now about this new
tangled. phrase, "State-wide prohibi-
tion,'' so-called prohibs talk so blat-
antly about. Even the general as
sembly speaks Of ''State-wide," etc.
Dow, like many others, would like to
have this "State-wide" business ex-
planned. Does it mean no favoritism.
no liquor bought, sold or drunk or
enter the State under any proylso or
condition? A law that the poor man,
the rich and the niger, all stand up
on the same footing? If that is what
is meant by Statewide prohibition
and that law is passed and enforced,
Dow will throw up his cap and say
"bully for you, I am with YOU That
would be a law which every man,
black and white, ants as we'll, who
has spark of justice or honor in his
veins, will stand by to the last ditch.
They only want sauce for their goose,
what others take for their gander. Il
quor to all who want it., or to none.
Or is this Statewide to be like
that we have in this and other prohi-
bition counties? Where one class can
get all the liquor they want, while the
other class is sent to the chalngaag
for having pint or quart in their
possession? This very town boasts Of
living under the soothing and bene-
ficial influence Of prohibition yet
Dow showed in his last article that
there was enough liquor bought IN
this town in December alone, to drown
half the population at one and the
same dip. White men buy by the
case and by the jugs full, mnoticed
and unmolested. while negroes have
been sent to the ohaingans or other
wise punished, for no other rea*': or
evidence than having liquor on their
person or at home. Will fair-mlnded
men stand for such law as that?
"Oh.'' say these so-called prohibs.