The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-07-29
A SALOON STORY
and Exaggerations with
Purpose The Suddenness of
Drunks and the Eruption OF the
Endorsements by Ants.

| runs like this
Said gentleman of group of sew
era1: 81 have been told that the six
drunls' reported recently were men not
at all connected with Shreveport, but
were imported designedly. Besides,
I've been informed that an agent of the
brewery was in Shreveport not long
since and he had secured from num-
Der Of citizens certificates to the effect
that prohibition in Shreveport does not
prohibit Among he signers are said
to be citizens of prominence not in the
saloon business. :"
| The gentlemen of this group discussed
the condition in all its phases and ex-
pressed surprise at what appears to be
remarkable series of occurrences.
| For illustrations:
Shreveport was in a normal state,
quiet and orderly, when suddenly six
drunks appear on the scene. The drunks
are strangers and have no connection
or relation with Shreveport. Then fol-
lows the eruption in DeBose's dive, and
then there are drunks and disorderly
men who keep the police on the go. On
investigation it is disclosed that other
dives, not located in the disreputable
district, have become excessively lively.
It is true that, excepting the few
white men, the disorders and drunks
i - ~I,,-r~o,Lfo 20 ,,auroae b,,t If
seems rather singular that so many
/ condolences without some cause or
reason, have been developed which
maye be left to conjecture. Left
to conjecture it may be inferred that
the purpose OF these exaggeraions is
not only to discredit prohibition in
Shreveport, but to influence if possible
The undecided in Texas and elsewhere
where the fight against prohibition is
being waged,
The unprincipled fellow may applaud
such tactics and praise the traffic which
| is always active and never hesitates at
any scheme to mislead. # necessary to
carry ont their purpose.
For instance:
An eloquent defender of the saloon
with ali its attendant vices and de-
baueheries is addressing crowd in
Texas. He has reached the climax OF
| his oratorical efforts, when he unfolds
the dismal picture of Shreveport. With
fearful eyes and husky voice he warns
| his hearers against prohibition. He tnen
depicts the vacant houses and the stores
which, as reported by the traffic, are
ranged into 1000, when it could have
been made 1000 just as we'll Then
the orator tells how. one fellow visited
Twenty saloons in a single day at
which he obtained the real stuff, but he
does not explain that this is a lfabrica-
ton of the whole cloth, and then he
lte1ls of the prohibitioniss who are de-
claring that prohibition does not pro-
hibit, and he dwells on the endorse
rnent Of ants, among the number prom
linent citizens, who ailege that prohibi-
/ tion is a failure, and then the orator
winds up in apowerful outburst during
which he would prove that Shreveport
| is going to shoel because of prohibi-
Ition.
In such a crowd more or less mixed
| and not unprejudiced, are men who ac-
eept the orators misstatements and ex-
| aggerations as gospel truth, and It is
for these that such stories are related
but assuming that all that which has
Ibeen said and is being reported of pro-
| hibition being failure in Shreveport
is true, upon whom must rest the re-
spoi1sibility for such condition? Ger
tainly not on the prohibitionists, who
Iare without legal authority, but on the
i city Administrations the Mayor, tht
Ipolice committee and on the chief q
lpolice, who, under their oaths of Office
Iare expected to compel obedience anc
!. respect for all laws and not excepting
the law of prohibition. Therefore j
matters not how the condition is viewee
Land whether or not a fellow. can g
into twenty-one saloons in a day ant
get the real stuff, or whether the jal
is the result Of irnportations from othe
points, it remains with the city authori
, ties to enforce the law, and # they dc
not, then they must be held accountabl
to the people.
All laws are odious to law-breakers
but it is possible TO force the law
breaker into respectful consideration
of the law by enforcing the law with
] out fear or favor.