The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-12-08

which the above is clipped, is the
leading harmony" advocate among
the regular" papers of the State
1t is perhaps the fairest exponent OF
the regulars in Tennessee. save
where the liquor question is involved
the Times IS seldom lar wrong in its
attitude upon public questions, 1t is
flee to admit the truth Of our conten-
ton, but replies by asking that the
liquor question be eliminated IRON
politics.
Now there is the rub. 1t is all
very well to talk about taking the
liquor question out Of politics. If
such d thing could be done we would
be simply delighted" TO nave that
kind of a settlement Of affairs i'll
Tennessee. However the people, I'M
fortunately do not agree as to what
should be the correct settlement Oh
this yexatious governmental question.
And where the people disagree about
the settlement Of policy Of govern
ment in democracy it is impossible
to conceive of an adjustment lee
from political strife.
Every question about 'ahich there
is occasion for legislation is more or
less a political issue. Il is true that
the liquor question is L.oral issue,
so are issues growing out of the at
titude of the State towards education
and taxation moral questions. In
truth every question about which the
peoples representatives are called
upon to legislate is, or should be,
a moral question.
The people not being of one &C
cord about the settlement of the
liquor question, there is nothing to do
but submit the issue to the voters of
Tennessee. And whenever that is
done the question gets into politics"
We confess that there are advocates
of prohibition in Tennessee who are
not sincere; they find that political |
aligments have thrown them with |
the supporters of prohibition, others /
are moved by personal or selfish mo-
tives. On the other hand there are
of the liquor faction in
the State who are equally insincere;
they are at heart opposed to the whole
nefarious traffic, but because of per-
sonal enmty toward the leaders OF
the other faction or because of some
real or fancied grievance that they
have suffered from the prohibition Or
ganization, they have aligned them
selves with the liquor hosts.
1t is regretable that these condi-
lions exist. But no one can deny
hat they do. There are loud mouthed
advocates of prohibition, who every
line they go to town or to the cap
tai city of the State, help the boot
eggers to violate the law. These
men are not only no credit to the
cause but are a positive detriment
@ it. 1t is the same way with the
churches. Fad men, designing men,
hose who arc members of the church
IS for personal or selfish reasons,
ire positive hinderanec to those sa-
cred organizations, but no man can
Justly condemn the whole church be-
,ause of the shortcomings of some
If its protested adherents Bad men
n all history have seized worthy
causes to advance selfish interests.
They will continue to do it to the
md of time.
The Herald would assuredly vel
,ome a settlement Of the liquor ques-
ion upon Its merits so that every
nan would decide his vote according
o his conscientious convictions and
n no case from partisan bias or in
OF a party eXpedient." But
low are we to get it? Maybe if the
Times can solve that problem it can
olye the other.