The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-10-21
Benefits of Prohibition.
Editor PALATKA NEWS:
L 4 L 4 4 Ii

| Eu1tOr PALATkA NEWS:
| have heard several men say they
were not for statewide prohibition be.
cause prohibition does not prohibit. 1t
seems to me that if these gentlemen
were really sincere they would also OBJ
ject TO every law that does not entirely
prohibit.
Practically all of them say, Look at
Savannah" They seem to know of but
one city in all Georgia where the law is
openly violated. But Georgia is a state
with 147 counties, and even if in just
few places prohibition is failure, il is
as whole a success.
| have seen over 800 testimonials from
the bankers and leading business men
from all parts of that state, to the effect
that the prohibition of the liquor traffic
in Georgia is great success.
Some days ago gentleman who has
lived in Savannah all his life came into
my office. said TO him, as it true that
any one can buy liquor in Savannah"
He replied that he was sorry to say they
could. Then asked him what was the
matter with the officers? "Well," said
he, "Savannah'S population is three
fourth foreign; they do not want prohi-
bition and will not have ii, and as they
control the elections they have things
their own way. But" he added, ''you
must not think prohibition has not i'm
proved Savannah, for it has; it is moth
ing like the same place; no drunkards
| loafing about the saloons and streets.
1t is quite respectable now as compared
| with the old order"
Later there came another man from
there who was quite an intelligent talker
and who said he was not prohibition
| iSt; he didn't believe in it. asked him
| if liquor could be bought in Savannah,
and he replied that ii could. | asked
why the law was not enforced there,
and his reply was the same as the other
mans. He gave quite a glowing ac-
count of how the place had been clean
ed up and said that while you could buy
drinks, you would scarcely know it by
the improved looks of the place; that
where drunkS were formerly plentiful
upon the streets few were to be seen
now.
"Then," said |, prohibition has
worked an improved condition even in
Savannah" YES" said he "it has,"
"Then," said |, ''why are you not a
prohibitioniStS?'
Because" he replied, 81 use liquor
and do not think would be consistent.
Then told him that we were fighting
the saloons because of the evil in them,
and that could see no reason, since he
admitted that prohibition was good
thing, why he should not help good
cause and not be selfish.
Mr. Editor, few days after my talk
with these men happened to be in Sa
vannah, and | saw no signs of saloons
except folding doors that stand closed,
and few beer signs. ! asked a police
officer if they had prohibition in Sa-
vannah. Well, | wish you could have
heard him abuse prohibition. He said
they had man once TO confess that he
sold liquor, and the man who bought
Swore 10 the purchase, and yet the jury
brought in verdict of not guilty; that
you couldn't get II ministers of the gos
pei to convict man for selling booze
even if the man admitted the sale. i
then asked this policeman if they still
had the drunken crowds about as for
merly. ooh no." said he. That street
over there pointing) used TO be lined
up until midnight and after every night.
We do not have that any more. Men
are not allowed TO loaf about as they
used to do, and the saloons are not al
lowed 10 sell man drinks until he gets
drunk.
''It has improved conditions, then,"
said l.
"oh ycs," replied he, sit has in that
way"
Now, fellow citizens, shall we con
denim an admittedly beneficial law, and
vote in favor of lawleSS set who hap
pen to be in political control of thick
| ly populated place, who are temporarily
in power and able TO defy law placed
upon the statute books for the benefit of
our children and homes by men who
place men and women and children and
morals above greed and graft
BY your vote you may favor the Sa-
looms continuance in Florida TO catch
and ruin my boys, but promise you
that if it remains and Injuries your boy il
will not be by my vote.
Saloons must have boys TO feed upon.
know you are not willing to furnish
them. If you intend to vote in favor
of the saloon you should have the man
hood TO say you favor keeping up the
supply of boys.
have heard men say they drink and
don't care who knows it, but never
knew such man TO take his boy in TO
drink with him.
If for no other reason, every man
should vote for the amendment as safe
guard TO our homeS-our women and
children. A vote against the amend
mcnt is vote to perpetuate the saloon
and its corrupting influence upon the
politics and morals of the state.
The people of Putnam county know
the benefits of prohibition; they are ap-
parent everywhere, but more especially
in Palatka. They have every reason
to wish TO extend its benefits into all
parts of the state.
w. G. TILGHMAN.