The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-10
Real Prohibition.

Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette.
I'm In the passage Of both the Carmichael
bill and the discussion and vote on the con-
stitutonal prohibition amendment resolu-
tion much was said about the wish of the
recipients OF petitions signed by constituents
asking for the passage OF the measures A
great number Of church and Sunday School
organizations, law and order leagues. tenn
perance unions, and other representative
bodies Of citizens were reputed to have sent
IN urgent requests that their respective rep
resentatives and senators vote for all pro-
hibition bills and resolutions without for
q moment doubling the sincerity of any OF
the signers OF such petitions, It Is interest
ing to speculate on what these various or
gantzations might accomplish In putting
down the liquor evil If they would under
take 1t as zeAiously in other ways. Suppose,
for Instance. the many sunday Schools ask :
ing for these laws should each form them
selves into q body to canvass their terrific
ry and pledge as many men as they might
not to indulge In drinking; suppose they
should undertake the organization of o So
those inclined and for furnishing them
with such surroundings as to make better
citizens and men Of them. There used to be
powerful hand called. "The White Ribbon
and others of a similar nature. which pledg-
ed men and women not to touch anything
to drink containing alcohol; these bands
did great work; they stopped many men
from drink!ng-not only that they created
character by stimulating and retaining lest
Wills They went out among men In the
old fashioned Christian way-thsy showed
them the error of their way and persuaded
them back into the fold.
If this would be too much suppose then
that these same petitioners had indicated
willingness to organize themselves for the
purpose OF assisting the over-worked Off
GERS of the law in enforcing the laws which
they asked to be passed. Suppose they had
pledged themselves to report every violation
they saw or could ascertain and that they
would busy themselves to ascertain where
such violations were going on. Would this
have been too much? They urge that pub
lie sentiment demanded drastic laws on thu
snh1ect-thRy that violations are Largely
due to the direct effort of lawless citizens to
bring the law into contempt. II these state
ments are true, then surely public senti-
ment would back them up in using every
effort to bring the law or law breaker Il
Justice and a law that is directly made tbs
| object Of attack by a lad element should
elicit counter effort on the part of the
good element to punish It's violators. Woulc
| Il not then be the duty of those who believe
| strong public sentiment to want such
| law, to swear out warrant for the arrest
OF every person whom they had reason T.
believe was violating the law, Is the publiS
| sentiment very strong when only paid Off
| GERS and detectives will do this?
| 1t Is a very easy matter to vote for proht
bition. but II Is quite hard matter to en-
force It, When law is put on the statute
| books of the state and into the constitution
! at the earnest insistence OF people. the same
| people have but begun their responsibility
| We cannot but believe that very patriots
| people one which Is interested only in thu
| upbuildinE Of the citizenship of its state
| will not cease it's efforts at overcoming tn
evils Of whiskey by voting fSr and urEinl
prohibition bills. The patriotism OF TIT
| prohibitionists and their real desre to abat
| the evil of whiskey drinking Will therefore
| he on trial with the law.