St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-03-19
mand Of Be pgopIe to s. aIIoNsd q.

BUSINESS MEL 1oaSU0 OI Gn6 C0uFS
pursued by the people Of The Wesi
and East and thespeople oftbe South
expressing the conclusion that less
prosperity has been enjoyed in Che
South because Of more radical laws
regarding saloons, the letter cites
many statistics showing the large
area dry" in the North, East and
West, and declares that as no more
territory in the South is dry" than
in other sections of the country,
those in the South fayoring abolition
of saloons are no more entitled to be-
ing designated fanatics and 'zealots'
than the others %favoring the same
conditions. Statistics showing great
property in prohibition territory in
all sections are given.
The large increase of dry, ter
ritory proves that the cause of pro-
hibition has grown to be so strong
that the defeat Of the saloon inter-
ests is almost a foregone conclusion
whenever and wherever the people
get q chance to vote OF the question.
The assertion that it (prohibition)
is the result Of 'hysteria' led BY yea
lots is q reflection upon the intelli-
gence Of the people," the letter
states.
Concluding, the letter gives the
challenge as follows;
Your charge that prohibition
tears down the material and moral
prosperity Of The people. and our con
ddent assertion that It builds it up,
makes a elear-cut issue of facts be-
tween US; and We assume that you
will not object to trying this issue be-
fore the people of Louisiana at a gen.
eral election, at which the question
will be submitted by the Legislature
to the qualified voters of the state
you will, we are sure. agree with
US that so important an issue ought
not to be decided by a body of less
dignity than the electorate Of the
state, and we are equally sure that
you will concede the right Of the
people to settle the question.
I'VE therefore invite your cooper
alton in IN effort to secure from the
Legislature, at its next session, the
submission Of the question to the peo-
pie.
We further request you to ap-
point some citizen of this state to CO.
operate with one to be appointed by
US to constitute a committee for the
following purposes:
TO visit the States of Maine and
Massachusetts, and Kansas and Ne
braska, there to obtain statistics rel
alive to the effect of prohibition on
material and moral prosperity of
people Of these states, particular
up on 1.-THE following subjects: Bank
deposits, number of depositors, taxa
ion, increase in value of real estate,
proportion of families who own homes,
on the criminal. insane and
oauper population, and such other
as will shed light on the
question at issue. ]
IT is stipulated that in securing
he above statistics the said commit :
ee shall in every case give prefer
nee to the figures in the United :
,tates census reports for 1900 5
where they can be obtained from
hat source, and from official statis- I
les from the state department of :
states in default Of census sta !
This committee to report :
through the press of the state not :
ater than May 9, 1910. 2
We agree to share with you )
qually the expenses Of said commit c
ee. Yours truly,
CLAUDE L. JONES, $
President State Anti-Saloon League. s
CHARLES V. PORTER, .
Legislative Committee. :
e. w. JACK, /
Legislative Committee. ! !
-@ {
TO Be MADE A PARK. /