The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-13
The ReaI Issue

The Real Issue.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 It is. In the opinion of the writer. very unfortunate that anything should be said or done just at this 1uncture that would becloud the great issue instant in this community and State. hence this effort to clear the sky
 There are various and widely di xergent views entertained on "The temperance Question'-views, which TOT obvious reasons, can never be har- monlzed while the world stands. It is consequently worse than a waste of tune to inject such questions into the present contest Nothing would please the laWIess element in this State and city more than to bring on a fight be- tween churchmen on some phase of the temperance question.
 The issue before the people of question. That Is a question for deo bate and settlement eff possible) in inc home. the school, the church. The pro- hioltlon of the liquor traffic. however. IS an economic question and consA- quently It's settlement Is properly and entirely matter for the State by its Legislature.
 The temperance question. as I have prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors not only can be but already has been settled by the law making body or the state. Prohibition is not up for
 HO, as such 1t behooves every citizen of the State of whatever name, creed. or hatlonaIlty' to submit to it's provisions and and aid in it's enforcement. The ques- ton IS not whether or any man be heVes in it or not As long as l am citizen of the State it Is my duty and my sworn duty If am a voter-to uphold the Constitution and laws Of or not.
 The paramount issue will soon be here, If. indeed. it is not already in- stant-not whether this or that stat. ute shall be enforced or not, but whether we shall have a government of any kind worth the name.
 We are running into anarchy and mobocracy In this country as fast as; our heels can carry us. The anarchis- tic spirit pervades almost every insti- tuition of our civilization, and every phase of society.
 There are very many, I grant, who are perfectly willing to see such laws enforced as do not concern them per- sonally, who will be party to the in- pens to run counter to their profit or pleasure, and it is safe to do so. Hun dreds of men who rank as the best citizens will read these lines and en- pressed therein until they come to the place which involves themselves, to- wit:-that these very men are doing more. perhaps. to break down respect AcA '~ anu NhoNi III llielA than the saloon men themselves. or even the "howling mob" But how? l answer. by patronizing these men that break the law, and by evading the law in organizing themselves into va rious sorts of clubs" closing the doors behind them, and taking advantage of the very sanctity and protection which the law itself Is supposed to throw around them to violate the spirit, if not the letter of it. every day in the year.
 The trouble in Montgomery is higher upstream than the bar room There are, perhaps, half a hundred barkeep- CTS who are after the money, but there are thousands of men who are after the booze. When the men who compose the business strength of the community conspire with these men to break the law of the land by patroniZlng them or, what Is worse, ensconce themsel yes behind closed doors in club rooms. to do what the law of the land clearly forbidS to the "uninitiated," there will be little real sentiment for law and order in the community, and little sim cere effort to change the horrible con- dition of things. Say what we will these are the chief influences which initiate against the enforcement of the prohibition law. They supply coudi- tions which tie the hands of law and justice. Who is going to ferret out in the grand jury room that which he ant his friends practice in the club? WhC Is going to give his money, his pres ence, his influence. In any apprectahlt amount to enforce the law against th'