The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-07-25

| there is no telling Wnen ne may Dc
guilty of some rash 1ndiscretfon even
to the blowing up of the powder n1aga-
zine if he were near one. Indeed, it is
simply waste, of time and space to
argue with the man who is so thorough
| ly entrenched ifr his seff-conceit as to
believe that 'our prohibition does not
prohibit simply for the reason that it
is not possible. to- exclude all intoxicants
from Shreveport, and now and then
some individual the victim of the traf
ticker in intoxfcants, has been made
| drunk
As we'll say that the law which pro-
vides the penalty of death or life i'm
| prisonment for murder shall be re-
pealed because now and then some man,
when drunk or may be sober, will kill
and murder AS we'll repeal the law
which provides punishment for larceny
and the crimes of men, as some men
will steal and violate the law, regard
less of prison. Suppose the laws which
restrain from crime were repealed, who
would be safe in his life and his prop
erty? Shall the law be condemned and
repealed because some men will kill and
steal?
The general aggregate in results and
not the failures is the best guage or
test of measure, or a law, or of any
thing else.
1t has been asserted that more than
1000 residences and I3 stores on Texas
street and Fl other stores on Texas
avenue have been vacated since Janu
ary I, 1900, due to prohibition.
/ To say the least, this statement is TN
true. Without violating confidence it
/ is declared as a fact that preceding jan
uary /, 1909, between Christmas and
| New Year day, there was recorded ac-
curately the number of vacant houses
in Shreveport, and these aggregated
I4oo, including old shacks and every
thing having roof. These houses were
situated mostly IN West Shreveport and
other sections of the town, but desirable
residences are not empty nor "aban-
doned I"
i And it is also a fact that new houses,
beautiful homes, have been completed
and are being constructed since Janu-
| ary 1, 1909. Are not these evidences of
prosperity?
i With few exceptions the stores empty
now were moccupied before prohibition
became effective in Shreveport.
There are no empty stores desirably
located for business.
! OF actual houses, in which people may
be dorniciled, there are vacant at this
time between 500 and GOO, and these
could be improved with repairs. This
is the estimate of conservative men en-
gagged in real estate and whose opinion
| is not jaundiced with prejudice.
Il This count or compilation was sug-
gested and made accurately, in antici-
!, patton of any attempt at discredit by
/ the saloon element against prohibition.
/ 1t is not prohibition which has ope-
: rated in the abandonment of these
houses and these places of business, but
} the almost failure of two, seasons
: crops and to other conditions having
E no connection whatever with prohibi-
E ton. Indeed, as fact, subject to veri-
E fcation, it is stated emphatically that
a tba conditions ba1,a ;,1,oro1,ad c;oca Ton-
n uary I, 1909. As indications of con-
i fdence and of substantial improvement
the deposits in all the banks in Shreve-
: port are satisfactory and steadily or
E the increase. Besides, money is plen-
Y tiful and may be obtained in any
amount on reasonable collateral While
Y business is not active, and it is generally
: dull during the summer months, there
o is always something doing. There /!
no distress among the people, nor fa:
y there been commercial failure Ap
a parently the only complaint comes from
h the saloon and the agents of the brew
y cry and their allies, whose sales a
:, limited under the law TO near-beer, i,
It dull and unattractive, except in case
d where the law is disregarded with silen
contempt.
e As observed, it is not possible to en-
# force any law so rigidly as to secure
cI against unqualified infraction, but tn
t tpeople who stand for law and order ar,
n well satisfied with the progress of pro
d hibition in Shreveport.
IS It is this fact. which is distressing t.
-e the liquor traffic.
d In anticipation of arousing contemp
y for the law, and in the hope of secur
ing its repeal, the liquor interests ar,
n indulging the fancy that in the occa
:, sional belittling of prohibition, in pub
it lished articles, they will further thei
d ends, but these must be grievously dis
n appointed.
el Decidedly, Prohibition is stronger to
y day in Shreveport and throughout Cad
do parish than it has ever been and i