The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1910-01-12
Intemperance and Gambling.

The very profitable and delightful
week of prayer observed by the local
churches last week reached high tide in
interest over the discussion of the topic
'Intemperance and Gambling" The
subject was so worded by the program
makers as to require the consideration
of local needs. The several speakers
for the evening, dispassionately but
frankly, spoke to the point at issue.
There was a surprising uninimity of
opinion relating to the belief that the
laws regulating the sale of intoxicants
were being wantingly defiedin the COM
munity at this time, as perhaps, not in
years past. If this be true. the matter
should receive prompt attention at the
hands of every citizen and by our new
officials in both town and county. 1t is
safe to conclude that this evil will grow
if not promptly met with a stubborn,
unyielding public sentiment. Let sus-
picious places and persons be duly
watched, and when detected in COM
plicity with the crime of boot logging,
be exposed, punished and branded as
enemies to he public good. To con
tinue to harbor such an existing aid is
to suffer the moral atmosphere of the
community to become poisoned. And
when this is done gambling, licentious-
ness and infdility to business, home
and church follow naturally. Columbia
and Adair county enjoy an enviable re
putation for sobriety and good morals
and. like Caesars wife must be kept
above the faint of suspicion. Every
citizen of moral muscle and spiritual
backbone should be summoned to
awake from his sleep of civic indiffer-
ence. At such time for the church of
God to sit still and be content with
theories outlawed by time and wholly
inadequate to the demands of the living
present, is to deserve the scorn of men
and the curse CT God. The one thing
supremacy neeGful to correct the reign
ing, secret violations of law, in any
community is wide awake, active,
-unsubsadized and incompatible Christ
ian conscience.
We are all too prone to follow the
pernicions habit of fault finding with
our officials for existing lack of law en-
forcement and conclude that this is
sufficient of itself to absolve US from
ali blame. Our elected magistrates are
not our masters, but our servants. Let
us frankly tell them so. They are
chosen not so much to make new poll
cies respecting moral issues, but to ex-
ecute existing laws without fear or
favor. Let them understand that when
they do this that they have the unquali-
fed backing and hearty support of
every good citizen. Officials need to
feel the support of the persistent, COM
polling influence of the good citizen at
all times. The Master likened this in
fiuence to salt, adding, ''But if the salt
have lost its SAVIOR, wherewith shall it
be salted?" Let US see to it that this
influence shall not go for naught. And
never forget that it is the old organic
cd. legalized, outlawed liquor traffic,
the enemy of every good that con-
fronts us. 1t is conscienceless, deadly,
desperate and never giving quarters
until put to the death. By way of
remedy, it was suggested:
That the pulpits ring out in clear
message on the need of the hour. And
repeat the dose.
End hold mass meetings in the interest
of good citizenship.
3rd Enlist the various women's organi-
zation in the several churches as dis
tributors of good literature. Encourage
the organization of a w. c. T. u. So
ciety.
4th Begin now and keep pounding
away until every official of town and
county understands! If any refuse to
take notice-just keep an eye on the
next election and keep pounding away.
And when the next election is over, be-
gin anew and continue to pound away
until the summons is heard. cit is
enough, come up higher"
j. R. Crawford.