The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-06-03
In License Town.

old man. replied nls friend symps~-
theticall!.
well, YOU needn't be, Arthur
Powers, for if | did so | would vote
straight against your pet scheme.
Against prohibition: Why: IN
quired Mr.. Powers.
Because. for one thing, | don
believe in binding men by law not to
drink. | believe in liberty of con-
science. Let ministers and these
other temperance reformers get to
work reforming men through their
,consciences and leave the law as it
is
"Your pastor is worker for pro-
hibition, but since when did he quit
appealing to mems consciences? On
Sunday he appeals to the drunkard
to assert his manhood, but to my
mind he is only consistent when he
takes his place in the battle-line on
Monday to fight the drunkard's bat
tie for him.
well, we have had prohibition
here now for three years, and what
has it accomplished? There Is more
drinking done in our town than ever
before
Arthur Powers threw back his
head and burst into a hearty laugh.
Excuse me, Bert" he said, but IN
the name Of all that's wonderful, tell
he why LIQUOR men without exception
oppose prohibition, if it makes liquor
easier to obtain. Why are the brew
ers and distillers putting up large
sums to fight the scheme? Why d1d
such men as Pat Green circulate the
petition asking for the vote to-day,
that they might repeal the local pro-
hibition ordinance, if it is easier to
obtain the stuff under he law now
extsting?"
"Well, you may laugh, but l saw
q drunken man on the street less
than three months ago.
Really? And while our town
had license how many drunks dlo
you you see in three months?'
"Oh, of course! But one expects
better with prohibition.
%"True, and we get better!'
"But, Powers, you know there is
something in mans nature that
makes him want to do what is forbid
den. Do you remember the teacher
we. had who forbade US the first day
of school to climb on the shed-roof!
We had never thought of doing 80,
but restriction created desire. we
talked about the fun it would be,
and dared each other, until freq
Green, Will Johnson and NICK Lee
took the dare and accomplished the
feat. Now that was the direct result
of the prohibition.
81 am not so sure of that. Any
way. only three in the school dis
obeyed the rules. The rest OF US
were afraid of the consequences.
'Well, 1 prefer decent licensed
house to a dive. Look at that house
of Shaver's! The boys gather IN
there and smoke, swear, play CARDS,
and discuss all manner OF evil
things
'And you would introduce liquor
into this group as a morallzlng
force? You got that speech BERT
from some of the whiskey men. They
give Shaver's the worst name, al
though it is a heaven to the licensed
houses we had here four years ago.
But granted that what you say IS
true, then if prohibition is repealed
we virtually put into Shavers hands
the. power to make drunkards OF
these boys as well as blackguards.
shaver would probably have the IL
cense. Certainly no better man
would accept it. And after an, ne
added, 'you believe in pronlolt!on
along other lines, why not In TINS
evil? But I must not spend all day
on q man who can't vote. There IS
work to be DONE" And Arthur
Powers hurriedly left the room.
s.Prohibitory laws along other
lines? Why I suppose so," mused
Bert Foster as his head sank back on
the soft cushion of his invalid chair.
He listened dreamily to the noise In
the street below. 1t grew louder. 1t
was the tramp of the multitude. The
people were all moving in one d1rec-
ton. Presently he was down among
them, carried along by the eager
crowd. On, on they sped. A beautl-
full town appeared in view. Joy bells
we're ringing, and at the entrance TO
the town the mayor stood blandly
smiling and bowling welcome to all.
welcome! Welcome to License
TOWN." he said.
What do you mean?" Bert IN
ouired. els there no prohibition
against the selling of liquor here:,
There is no prohibition against
anything" ne explained. "A prohl-
bition law only creates a desire to
transgress that law, so we have no
prohibitions. This is License Town.
Bert looked about him. On every
side were bright, happy faces. Tne
children danced in glee. A woman
merry laugh rang out, and louder
louder the JOY bells rang. Suddenly
a dispute arose between two chill
dren. There was an impatient word,
q quick blow, and then the mother
stepped forward to interfere. Leave
me alone!" shouted the child angrlly.
"I'll do as l please. I'm in License
Town. And on the very thresh-
hold of License Town shadow rest
ed on a mothers face.
Then, as Bert watched and waited,
She-the Creature OF his dreams
o,,oo Moro eautiful than ever she