davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-22
By Ebert Hubbard

TIME very first item in the creed
of common sense is obedience.
Perform your work with a whole
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-22

Oklahoma sends a threatening a
the
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

the history Of this law in every city on
the face Of the earth whore II was
placed on the statute books sse:nst
the expressed will of tho majority Of
the people. There arc men in the city
OF Nashville who stand in tho high
places ProcIaimins tho wisdom and
pointing out tho necessity of prohibit
ton and who. openly and without
seeming to comprehend the inconsist-
enoy Of their course, assist in tho
breaking of the law on every possible
occasion.
you can readily understand what
an enormous unG srtsking an official
assumes when ho undertakes to en-
force law in which large majority
OF the people are opposed and in which
the minority enthusiastically assist in
breaking.
"H IL known of oil mon that 70 am
opPosod to compulsory prohibition
principally for the roason that ! be-
lieve, that temperance can BIO better
promoted and the whisky interests
better controlled by high license, strict
regulation end segregation. Under
theoo conditions tho saloon question
was solved In tho city Of Nashville TO
tho satisfaction Of practically all OF
tho people. The saloons before tho
state wide law won't into effect were
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06
CITIES -
PROHIBITION
Mayor Crump Of Memphis
States That Prohibition
Works Poorly In Pop
ulous municipalities of
State. 4

spected and itself provoke immoral
ity, is 1t not your duty not to pass it2
There is nothing I'm divine law
which makes prohibition itself a moral
issue, and there Is no such general
sentiment among Christian mankind
as to Justify such Characterization"
The message of the governor wns a
popular document with the people Of
Tennessee. but It fell upon deaf ears
when 1t came to the legislature, for
the state wide bill passed that body,
and even after the governor vetoed It
the bill was passed over his veto.
On July 1, 1900, state wide prohibi-
ton went into effect, and Immediately
the very conditions of which Governor
Patterson warned the legislature be-
came realities and not theories.
In all truthfulness It should be set
down here that Tennessee has officials
OF high standard when viewed from
every standpoint, but they have found
1t an impossibility, try as hard as they
would. to enforce law which was fas.
tened upon people without their con-
sent
1t Is this feature, too. which makes
county option laws SO unpopular and
ineffective.
The mayor of Chattanooga is 7. @.
thompson, one of the leading and
most responsible citizens of that grow.
ing and progressive city.
Mr. Thompson's father was at one
time governor of the state of South
Carolina and was named rs n member
of the United States civil service COM
mission by President Grover Cleve-
land.
In signed statement, under date of
June p, 1910, Mayor Thompson dis
cusses conditions as they exist in Ten
nessee. with especial reference to his
own experiences as mayor of Chatta-
nooga. x s.
The settlement follows: FL
after eight months service as
mayor OF tho city of Chattanoora
under tho state wide law, so called, /
have no hesitation in saying that 1
would much prefer to sec the city
operated undor tho excise law, as for.i
merIy. III Il.
"Under this law we had some sixty
~e'oS'ot 'S9b'atous taHou ana project
ed. The holder of license paid a
good price for IL, and such license gave
him and the public protection. Mnors
swere kept out; Intoxicated men wore.
refused liquor; there were no screens.
no Objectionable signs and no chairs.
Tho holder of such license ,reauiatess
his place under the strict requirements
Of tho excise commission, and no city
In the land had more toIerabis condi-
lions regarding the liquor traffic than
this.
Under our present law there are
large number of places operating as
near-bear stands, which are at least
subject to suspicion as violators Of the
law. That liquor is being procured
cannot be denied. Our police records
and the ordinary means Of observa-
ton compel an acknowledgment of this
fact. cannot say that the oppor.
tunity of passing upon this prohibit
ton law, and assuming that prohibi-
ton had carried, would havo made tho
law more easily enforced but my Jude
mont is that this would have had the
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

and the demand for them people go on
cultivating them, just as the people of
Tennessee and other states go on cul-
tiyating their thirsts.
And stranger still is the fact that this
cultivation OF thirsts is not confined to
the riffraff In communities. but extends
to all classes of citizens-to those who
boast Of blue blood in their veins as
well as to those of Iowly parentage;
to the millionaire as well as 20 the man
who earns his daily bread 10y laboring
with his muscles and not with his
brains.
1t is this fact more than any other
that is responsible for the mistaken
idea which possesses those who ad-
vocate prohibition laws either In the
form OF state wide, nation wide or
county option enactments.
If there was no demand for liquors
there would be no supply. for with
out demand there would be no profit
in its manufacture. and the mere fact
that a law is passed prohibiting its
sale In no way diminishes the demand.
It's this feature that leads 10 gen.
eral and wholesome disregard Of such
laws and its attendant difficulty In en-
forcing them.
Most people agree that the laws
should be enforced, but it's one thing
20 talk Of enforcing the laws and
quite another thing 10 enforce them,
especially If there isfa strong demand
in any community for that article the
sale Of which Is prohibited,
The best cftfzcns'' IN stcfr commu-
mites. too. are as much responsible
for this condition as are those Of the
middle or lower classes.
II has been one OF tho favorite
modes Of attack Of the Anti-saloon
league TO hold the liquor dealers who
have been voted or lcgislated out OF
business I'm certain states or commu,.
mites responsible for violation OF such
laws, but again II returns TO the basis
Of supply and demand, and in nearly
every instance IL has been demonstrat.
ed that the liquor dealers have re.
sponded cheerfully 70 the law, while
taking their places have come the
boot leggers," "jointists" and others
operating IN o clandestine way.
The distillers, brewers and liquor
dealers have not been responsible for
this condition, but the demand has
end will continue 10 be responsible.
That's the condition in Tennessee.
After thoroUlh organization and
manipulation the Anti saloon league ln
thar state elected majority Of the
Legislature and proceeded GU 40 once
Introduce n state wide prohibition bin
In ono az flo most powerful and
forceful tlesSafos ft.r ~rai f1 leg
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06
MORE LIQUOR DRINKING.
Inorease In Quantity Consumed Despite
Prohibitions Spread


The preliminary report OF the com
missioner of internal revenue gives IT,.
tie comfort 10 the probibitlonIst. for.
Notwithstanding the fact that there
are now more states than ever before
which prohibit the sale OF Intoxicating
liquors and the area In which such
beverages may be lawfully sold has
been greatly restricted by local Oh.
lion laws I'm other states, the consunp-
lion OF distilled spirits. such as whis
Ky, rum, gin. etc. and fermcntcd liq
uors, including beer. porter, nle, etc.
has greatly increased during the Us.
cal year ended June 30, 1910, rs com.
pared with the year ended June 80.
1909.
with the general increase in indus
trial activity the collections from I'm.
toEicating liquors have increased re-
gsrdlees Of the prohibition movement
and the fact that approximately one.
third Of our population resides in pro-
hibition territory. Washington Dis
patch Cincinnati Enquirer Auo. *
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

sioner Of streets, bridges and sewers:
c. w. Edmonds. commissioner Of ac-
rounts, finances and revenues, and
Thomas Dies. commissioners OF public
utilities. grounds and buildings Of the
same city.
All that has been said OF the char
acters and standing OF the mayors of
Chattanooga and Nashville may also
be said OF the mayor Of Memphis.
Most significant Of all as proving the
utter failure of state wide prohibition
In the state of Tennessee is the utter
ance OF Governor Malcolm II. Patter-
son when In his speech OF acceptance
Of denomination at the hands OF his
party June 10. 1910. he said In part:
II regard the introduction OF prohi-
bition In the politics OF Tennessee as
the prolific cause for almost every I'll
which has befallen the state and the
Democratic party, and until It Is elm
mated for some sound and sensible pol
icy which will meet the approval Of
right thinking and patriotic men It will
continue to be a disturbing factor In
our affairs.
THE fatal mistake was made when
we abandoned the rule Of consent as
applied to the towns and cities Of the
state and substituted the rule Of force.
ut came about when the excess Of
honest but mistaken zeal on the part
OF those who really believed a prohi-
bition law would prove effective was
used by designing demagogues for their
own advancement and as furnishing
an easy road to power and control Of
the state government. ] do not wish
to use the language OF harshness to
the thousands who were in good faith
misled into this crusade, for their opin-
ions are entitled to respect.
but would ask them to lay aside
whatever prejudice they may have and
In the light of experience ask them
selves what It was oil about and what
good has been accomplished.
Are conditions better or worse than
before compulsory prohibition became
law In Tennessee?
my own record has been consistent
and 1t has also been correct
1T is the true temperance doctrine.
for 1t regards the powers of govern
ment in dealing with the ordinary and
acknowledged rights of men.
ut deals with the liquor question
upon the proved and ancient principle
| of local self government and allows
| the people OF the towns and cities to
settle IL for themselves.
This idea was, embodied In the
Democratic platform upon which
,, have been twice elected governor of
Tennessee, and l have faithfully obey
ed IT. During my first administration
the votes Of the people Of nine towns
and cities were recorded as against
the sale of liquor. nd without hesita-
ton signed the bills abelishing their
! charters.
-Four hundred saloons went out Of
| existence as result of this legIsla.
| ton, and there was no excitement, but
ready acqniescence even by the liquor
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

men themselves. for the people had
acted. and the principle of consent had
been recognized.
You will recall that / recommended.
on increase I'm the liquor tax. and fl
was doubled by the Legislature. and
while In f006 the total liquor tax was
2To.s27.S7. 1t had increased I'm 1907 TO
1891 ,232.14, although 400 open saloons
had quit business and were paying no
taxes.
Under general prohibition law
there Is now not one dollar of revenue
collected, and the CONSUMPTION of Lilo.
uor has certainly not decreased.
Result Of .prohibItlons
This was also q reasonable protL
sion but when prohibition was forced
upon the people oil safegunrds around
the liquor traffic were broken down
and the result was increased sale and
consumption without a dollar of reve
nue.
I'm Memphis. where the sentiment
OF fhe people was almost unanimous
against prohibition. not the slightest
attention has been paid to tho law, and
Illicit selling, am told. has spread
from tho city al over the county.
The newspapers. which are largely
responsible for present conditions. will
charge that the failure OF the law is
not due to prohibition. but to the gov.
ernor. who is not I'm sympathy with II.
This is easy to charge. but is H..
true7
Il have no power TO find indlct.
mentS TO enter verdicts or to call out
the militia TO enforce this law The
constitution clothes me with no such
authority
The law hnsl never been enforced
In Alabama. where the governor is an
extreme ProhibItlonist and has the
power even 20 remove officers Tor fan.
ure TO execute the law. power the
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06
MAYORS OF
DISCUSS
Mayor Thompson Of Chat
tanooga Declares In Fa.
vOr Of License and Strict
Enforcement of Reason
able Laws.
TENNESSEE "DRYT

AS well talk of the Missis-
- sippi river. which with its
broad expanse OF water forms
the western boundary of the state, be-
ing dry.
The two would be as consistent.
or course the laws of Tennessee say
that 1t shall be dry" and that appar-
emily, according to the ideas of some.
was all that was necessary to make it
"dry."
But the learned high browed gen.
uemen who were responsible for such
an idea and its PRONUNCIATION into stat
utory law evidently overlooked the
fact that for years and years many of
the people Of Tennessee had been cult
waiting thirst and that even with tho
enactment Of state wide prohibition
law this thirst would continue as one
of the underlying principles OF that
state. just as 1t marks the habits of
most Of the people of every other state
in the Union.
It's something like the dyspeptic
who reached the conclusion that sliced
tomatoes were harmful as an article Of
diet. AT first he warned his friends
against the dietary value OF tomatoes;
then he inveighed against them at
meetings Of women's clubs and Mt last
grew bold In advocating laws which
would prohibit their sale or cultivation.
Strange to relate, though, most peo-
pie went on eating tomatoes, and in re-
Spouse to this perverse order of things
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06
AT COST.

2O5 South Bland Street.
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06
.'!'!!zA:'z'1N;!!'||H5ftalssAV6staIu
Schedule IN EHeps
MAY rs, 1910.

Leave Blueheld 1890 a. IN. for r,boa-
uoke, Norfolk and All points OF shep-
aiosh division, .sllmau sleep1l
7Oanoke tc NsS gTih, VIA Hagsr--
own, Pullman Fat 80 Gar Rcao0aa
o Norfoi'
$3.50 .. m. for Roanoke. Htch-
oond. Norfolk Pullman slooper.
Dining Car 20 RoAnoks.. PsTlur .IaI
toapoke 10 Norfo,b
2:20 p. IN. for Roanoke, Lynch.
ourx and intermediates stations 80.
The Shena1dN~b valley PbifadsIpile
and New YORK. sleepsf ~ pbfIRd ..
phia. Cafe car Gary and shena-
doah.
9:1s .. m. e@v Roanoke, Lynch
surs. Richmood, 3s,rfvik. FSau a
sleeper to n rfoiS. r.~shok& 20
Richmond
Leave PJusH~id s.sg d. n. FOR X 20
ova, COlumbus and ali puluts VT
and Northwest PplIm,.u 9Ieoper FOR
Oolusnbus a. = CincinnaH. Cafe cars.
sac m, "UiI1lHJ 3 espsr for
n-JluwhUei Cata 'p,.tn, 90,
Leave 1885 a. M. and 2:O5 u. m.
daily for sssswsu. Norton ,tnJ sr
na'i0ns on Clirch YhJlsJ division.
Arrive 'rom Norton and poipte On
the Slinch Valley division at 11.3o n.
m. and 1920 D. m.
Leave 6:15 a. m. for wslch and
INTERIM, didlc stations.
Leave 1u;S5 a. m. for William
non aad lptefIned late stat,ons
Leave ISIS pm. for WSInh All
intermediate stations.
FOR s'ditioUsi iat0rynaurn call &c
sEsnt NVrfolk snd WtHsru RAuwa,
-. y BEvu.
G@n Phss. Agent
RoAbote. Va
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

I'C' IHOhPsoN, MAYOR OF CHATTANOOGA.
effect OF creating moro healthfuI
sentiment in its favor Disreasrd for
this law breeds contempt for all other
laws. The open saloon without prso-
teal regulation with its banefui in.
hUeneo in politics is gone mover 20 70
turn.
20 an, in favor of high license, seore.
cation and strict enforcement OF a
reasonable law believe that this
question should DO handled by eduea
tior, preoept and example toward TEN
persnee rather than an attempt 20
force morals by legislation.
IT. G. THOMPSON.
Chattanooga, Tenn, June II, 1907
The experience Of MaEcf Thompson
Of Chattanooga IS likewise that OF May.
or Hilary Howse OF Nashville. another
OF the leading cities Of Tennessee.
Like Mayor Thompson. Mayor Howse
IS also a high class representative citl
zen Of the city over which he has been
called 10 preside.
In signed statement under date OF
July 8. 1910, Mayor Howse also dis
cusses in pointed manner condition.
rs they exist Ills statement follows.
Tho history Of the prohibition Law
IN the CITY OF NsGhVllo Us tho Same on
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-06

List your property for sale with
EASBEY g. WEST.
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-20
MISSION THEATRE.

Another big bill, one largely sprink-
led with comedy, is promised by the
Mission for the week commencing next
Thursday afternoon. The management
says that 1t is their aim to present just
a little bit better bill each week and
from the offerings of the last three or
four weeks IT can be said that they
have been making good on the prom
Use. Just which act OF the bill VIII
prove the headliner remains TO be seen.
In some Of the cities one act has been
voted a headliner, while IN others an
other act has been voted the best on
the bill 1t will be up TO" the patrons
Of the Mission to decide which they
think is the best.
One Of the big features of the bill
will be the first appearance in this city
of George Reno and company, who have
made a hit in every city in which they
have appeared. The company consists
of four men, one dwarf, one tall, one
fat and one Just ordinary man and
one woman. They present a turn en-
titled 1.-THE Mlsfit Army" which is said
to be a scream from start to finish.
Almost direct from Europe come
the -Four Baltus in an act that has
been voted by press and public as a
marvellous exhibition of acrobatic feats.
This act is said to have created de-
cided sensation in every city in which
it has yet been presented and prom
Uses to do so here.
Another scream is promised in the
act to be presented by Whitehead and
GriersOn, late leading members OF The
Umpire" and "The Girl Question" COM
panies Their act is said to be original,
with several laughs a minute from the
tine that they appear until the act
closes.
up Against 1t Good and Hard" as
sang by Hoey, Of the Hoey and Mozar
team, is said to be worth going miles
to hear, while the entire act IS de-
scrtbed as so funny that it keeps the
audience roaring from start to finish.
Raw Fern, who will offer a singing
and dancing act, is said to be come
dian with a real singing voice.
The Mission orchestra, under the d.
rection of Professor Molerup, viii
offer a number Of new selections ana
new moving pictures Will go to make
IN what is promised as another big
bill at the theatre different"
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-20
Some Ome-AcG Plays

o. N England the short play has thriven
as little as the short story. There has
been. of course, d steady demand for
curtain raisers," and a steady supply of
them. But these, with rare exceptions,
are Of no more account than the snort
stories IN the popular magazines. It were
absurd 70 suppose that we have hardly
any writer's capable OF writing good short
plays. Ardent dcvotees Of the 'conte"
have sometimes proclaimed It a more diff
ricult art form than the full sized novel.
That is nonsense. One might as well say
1t was more difficult to build an arbor
than to build a house. To present an
episode or a phase H. a few pages is Obvi-
Ously much easier than TO present in COM
binatiOn and on a large scale a series of
episodes of phases. Every work OF art
must be unity. And the difficulty or
achieving the effect of unity is proper
tiOnate to the number and variety Of
things TO be welded. There are among
US a dozen or so clever men who have
more or less mastered the art of writing
full sized plays. Any one OF these could
with great ease write short plays Of good
quality. II is not less certain that many
of the clever people who try to write full
sized plays. and fall by lack Of the requi-
site instinct and the requisite dOggedness
would through the medium of the short
play be able to express themselves quite
well.
The reason why the short play has been
left TO the devices of the dOlts IS that
there has been practically no chance for
q good short play 10 be produced worth
ily. Curtain raising IS not a fine enough
prospect to allure a self-respecting writer.
Mr.. Shaw has written two or three short
plays knowing that they would have spe-
cial and adequate production by this or
that society. But the other playwrights
who count Cor who might COUNT, not hav-
The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-20

ing that stimulating prospect have con-
fined themselves to the writing Of plays
sufficient in length to command a worthy
mode Of production. From time to time
there have been rumOrs OF theatre in
Which only short plays were to be pro-
duced. But such a theatre, by reason Of
the conservatism Of the public, would, for
a long time, have to be run at a loss,
and will I imagine, remain In the clouds.
Meanwhile, there seems TO be cast q ray
Of hope from the music halls.
In the last two or three years actors
OFFERS" have recited In this and that
music hall. They were at first rather
ashamed of finding themselves there, and
Of smelling so strongly of smoke when
they came away. But the leaps and
bounds of their bank balances presently
teristically enough, they have now al
most persuaded themselves that what
they thought was smoke is really incense,
and they are inclined to SAVIOR more of It.
Thus, when the insinuating manager of
the music hall says to them, why con-
fine yourself to reciting- exquisite though
your reciting is? Why not deign to dan
gle before the eyes Of the humble but
honest clients the whole ranges Of your
beautiful art?" they don't proceed to
witheT him with a look. The actresses
merely give a little scream. The actors
cast around them for plays short enough
TO be legally performed on the music hall
stage. It stands to reason that the crude
little sketches" already current will not
suffice as vehicles for highly trained art
lists. Gifted playwrights must be requis-
itioned to write sketches worthy of the
occasion. This is a development which
welcome on all Scores good for the actors
and actresses, and (Which matters most,
good for the future Of the short play.