The Caucasian., 1911-08-01
THE TEXAS ELECTION
Significance of Shrinking Majorities
of Antis i'm the Cities-The Saloon
or Prohibition.

The Galveston News, after notinl
That out of 467 900 votes the prohibi-
tlonists lacked only 5000 votes ot
carrying the State, says editorially
1.-The anti-prohibitionists them
selves can not be blind to the sig
rlficance of their shrinking majori-
ties in the cities. Fatuous as they
have so often shown themselves,
they must perceive that even the
cities, tolerant as they have been,
have accumulated for the saloon a
disgust which will brook no further
denial.
Nearly quarter of million bal
lots were cast for prohibition. Every
one of them was instinct of disgust
for the methods in which the LIQUOR
traffic is carried on. Many of them
were cast by men who have little
faith in the efficacy of prohibition as
a temperance measure; many were
cast by men who, in casting them,
were not sure that they did not vio-
late the principle of local self-gov-
ernment, which is dear to them.
"The one thing which animated
them resistlessly and enabled them
to subordinate all considerations of
eNpedience and political principle
was disgust of the saloon as il is or
diLarily run. That fact ought, and
must suggest, to the anti-prohibi-
ton forces that what they have won
is not victory, but flna! oppor-
tunity to prove that the liquor traf-
fic can be made obedient to law and
The spirit of decency. They have
feen put on probation.
Notice has been served on the IL
duor traffic that it exists on suffer
ance, and that, therefore, it will not
be allowed to defy the law nor even
prescribe the terms of its own regu-
lation, and that least of all will it be
allowed to dominate the politics OF
this State. The length of its contin-
tinued existence will be measured by
the degree by which it learns and
practices this lesson of the election.
Ii it disregards the lesson, it will
sign its own early DOOM"
In its comment the Picayune says:
Thus it is that the free people of
Texas have not declared against the
temperate use of liquors, but they
have risen almost in mass againstI
the efforts of a wholly selfish and
traffic, organized to control
the country, to violate its laws, defy
public authority and outrage de-
cency. Probably 100000 men who
temperately drink liquors voted with
the prohibitionists in Texas, and un-
less the liquor traffic shall reform
its manners it will be driven out.
There is already loud cry for the
division of Texas into at least two
states, and one of them will surely
be dominated by prohibition.
"The lesson which has been sol
impressed on the liquor
traffic in the neighboring State of
Texas should be learned in Louis-I
lana. We have local option law,
which allows the people of any par
ish, town or city to permit or pro-
hibit the liquor trade. Let everybody
come to understand that permission
for the sale of liquors is for the
public convenience, and if the peo-
pie do not want it they can cut it off.
Above all things. they will not per-
nit their parishes, their towns and
cities and their state to be made the
prey and the slaves of a selfish, con-
scienceless organization of grogl
shops. Such is the lesson of the
Texas election