The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-19
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1911.
ABSOLUTELY UNANsWER-ABI.E.

ABSOLUTELY UNANSWEAAiA1L.
L Mr. Sam E. Conner OF the staf Of the Lew's-
Y lon. Me-. Journal fas an article in the current
|slstue Of Leslie's Weekly on rs Prohibition
4 Failure In Maine" which is absolutely unan'
perter OF the licensed saloon, has presented
arguments that suggest themselves at once TO
the candid and sincere student Of the problem,
xASxumeut that have been presented again and
nxain by the advocates Of prohibition but which
H1frangeiy the defenders OF license never seek
Ethey canno, be refuted aud it Is always
s4tctive In supporting an untenabe position
Eto ignore unanswerable arguments and befud-
Edie the situation with numerous dogmatic and
Runsupported assertions.
M Mr. Conner admits what every friend or
1 Prohibition will freely admit. that prohibition
EIu Maine has not been perfectly enforced. No
Ebody will assert otherwise anywhere. But he
VERY rightly claims that the issue Is not
whether the law has been prefectly enforced
Etut whether the principle will to the greatest
Eextent minimize the alcoholic evil
E So far as the enforcement Of the law is con
Eterned no law on the statue books Is perfectly
ENFORCED yet never offer this argu-
k|ment Of the failure of the law plea
Es1pr Its repeal The Law against murder is not
perfecty enforced. The fact that the United
Estates leads the world in the number of homi-
cddes would indicate that Il a failure. But
NV realize that the Law with its penalties tends
Eto minimize the evil.
Under prohibition it is impossible to find an
oDen bar anywhere They are hidden in back
[asooms With watchers carefully guarding their
#entranees and only be found by the initial
6nd. The average citizen does not know of their
&aoration and the boys cannot find them They
kxannot throw wide open their doors and offer
Aonstant temptation and invitation to the pas
E&erby Under prohibition the sale Of liquor is
n crime and to patronize the illegal institution
Ix Disgrace. Very pertinently he ask; which
|aIa the better way for the public good, the
Maine way license
~ Nv Conner lays bare the absurdity Of the
rsoposition that is frequently offered that more
4quor is sold under prohibition that under
license He says it would be just as silly to
aim that more cigars could be sold in viola
tipn or the law than under the protection OF
ne law To accept this proposition seriously
n to reveal stupidity that should cause one
1hame AS matter of fact the two great
4tties. New York and Chicago. sell more liquor
III few days than all the prohibition territory
|1n the United States sells in year.
q But the plainest refutation of the PROPOSE
Hon Is found in the practical attitude of The
1kauor interests towards prohibition. Invari
Shly they are found fighting for the right II
IN iouor protected by the law. They work
~ II and vote for 1t. They are today main.
aiming at tremendous expense bureau OF
lnblic education to persuade men that the oper
loon is the best method of handling the pro
lem. Recently since the growth of prohibi
S3on territory has been rapid and so great
5key have contributed thousands upon thous
nds OF dollars to slush funds TO win elections
ne system that pleases the drink maker ane
&e drink seller and offers him the best OPP
crtunities Of dispensing his stun is not The
Vptem that appeals to US as most conducive
~ decreasing the sale and minimizing the evi
q alcohol
We assert as. we have repeatedly asserted
Without fear OF successful contradiction tina
nile prohibition does not stop the sale OF II
~ entirely 1t does minimize the evil tha
ohibiiory laws enforced SUCCESSFUL,
reguiatiye and that tho passing years will
4nx increasing success to the enforcement o
law and decreasing volume to the sales o