Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-12


ton movement now prevalent in the Unit
ed States, especially in the south. They
regard It as a wave OF enthusiasm which
will soon pass. So Louis XVI under
estimated the French Revolution at its
beginning 1t Is said that when he saw
the excited multitudes outside his palace
he remarked to one by his side. at is a
riot; but his attendant, who was wiser
than the poor, weak king, replied, Sire,
it is revolution. So it proved, as Louis
found to his sorrow and utter undoing.
The present movement for prohibition is
| revolution arising from great economic
! facts and political necessities, as well as
I from principles OF morals and convic-
/ tons. OF conscience. Back Of 1t are the
/ preachers and the churches, and these
alone would be a very powerful force;
but they are not alone. A vast multitude
of men have become prohibitionists who
are not members of the churches, and who
are not moved in the matter OF religious
considerations. ss
Some things have already been settled
too firmly to admit OF further discussion.
and the men who continue to debate these
points In the controversy are belated and
| befuddled.
! The principle OF prohibition Is universal
| ~ admitted, and Ii is too deeply imbedded
| In the laws of all the States ever to be
| opened to serious debate again. In all the
STATES of the Union are laws forbidding
the sale Of Intoxicating liquors to certain
classes, such as minors and habitual
drunkards. But the right to prohibit the
sale of liquor to any class Involves the
right to forbid its sale to all classes, If
| the law making authority judges il wise
| to do So So also on certain days, as
1.-THE Sabbath and days of elections, the
whole country is under prohibition; but IL
prohibition Is proper on. any day, In the
year it is entirely proper on all days II
the, legislative power Of the State so de-
termines. And no man would propose the
repeal of these laws which protect the
4 Sabbath and shield days of election from
the, disorders and dangers arising from
! the sale of intoxicants because Few
f'blind tigers were found doing business
| on those days. Again. prohibition Is ex-
ltendeds over certain areas every Day In
1.-THE year. aud ins all the States; the
sale of liquors is prohibited in proximity
| to school houses and churches. But IL
prohibition may be- enforced over one
lareas it. may be extended over the entire
| territory Of the State. and If II can De
/ made TO prohibit over one area 1t can De-
made effectual over all areas II the ciYn
authorities are so minded
1 n The license system itself recognizes tne
principle OF prohibition; for 1t prohibits
all men, except those who have obtained
"A license. from engaging In the liquor
* The prohibition movement proposes
nothing more than putting all classes
IalI- areas. and all days under law which
has long been operative over certain
Glasses, certain, areas, and certain DAYS.
"A very large number Of people nave
come TO the conclusion that this Is best
j not going
40 turn back until 1t is done. The good
/ women and the preachers and the leaders
of the churches during many years have
1 held this opinion for moral reasons. and
in recent years their efforts have been re-
| enforced by the assistance Of muititude
Lof men who have reached the same con-
/ clusion on account of economic ana So
.lciologicaF reasons. The pfohlpitlon
movement is no longer;a moral reform
loulx-ra II Is. as II always has been, .
I1nethod of moral reformation with many
l who support 1t, but with others tits that
and more. Ok = -Nt
Il MANY men now advocate the cause OF
Iprohibition because they are convinced
THAT the laws which we have had Tor
Inane years with reference, TO certain
lolasses. certain areas, and certain DAYS
can not be maintained without total pEO-
Inhibition as to all classes, all areas, ana
IaIl DAYS. The liquor sellers have per-
sisted in selling intoxicants to little boys;
1 thew have violated the laws as to days
/ of election and the Sabbah; they have set
1 AZ nought the statutes which protect such
i places as schools and churches. Serious
| and thoughtful men viii not consider lot
a moment the repeal Of these statutes.
/ and they now propose TO make final
/ ending of a lawiess interest which defies
such laws They feel that an interest 30
/ anarchistic must be put down by the peo-
Iple or the people Will be put down by 1T
| Multitudes have seen the prosperity
which has followed the operation OF pro-
Inhibition laws I'm towns and counties
which have been f'dry'f for years under
/ local option. and they have been con-
WINGED that the saloon Is an incubus upon
business and an obstacle 10 Industrial
progress. They do not propose to allow
| This vampire to continue longer TO SUCK
1.-THE life-blood out OF legitimate commerce
and productive industry.
The managers OF railways have found
THAT they cannot AFFORD to allow the oper-
atfves who run trains to drink whether
on duty. or of duty. They can not make
dividends with damage suits constantly
arising from the negligence of employees
txyhen under the influence of intoxicants,
and they know that man who drinks
when off duty will sometimes drink when
on duty Among their employees are
Imanv sober men, and these men are not
willing to hazard their own lives and
1.-THE lives of others in their care by worh-
| ing with other employees who drink.
From presidents to trainmen the rail-
roads are becoming great trunk lines OF
prohibition. ~ @ti 7Tr
Within the last decade inventive genius
has devised an immense amount Of the
most delicate machinery for all sorts OF
manufacturing. and there has been
great expansion of manufacturing. But
drinking men can not handle such deli
cate machinery They imperil the machin-
Iery, mar the product which they under
take to make, endanger their own lives,
and put in jeopardy every hour the lives
of others who work alongside OF them.
Hence the manufacturers and their en-
pIoyees are turning towards prohibition.
1 1t was truly said by an able writer in one
of the January magazines, Practically
every employer Of labor in America de-
l3sfres to close the barrooms which cluster
around his factory gates. The cost and
loss to him is enormous"
The farmers have seen how labour Is
demoraIized In wet" areas and how 1t Is
tranduillized in 'dry'' areas They live
ever in sight of the trace question" the
ldificulties and dangers of which are null
tiplied thousand fold by the sale of in
, toxicating liquors. and they feel that all
he of