El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-08
POINDEKTER SAYS
THREE CLASSES
Of ANTS
Characterizes Third Class as
political Bootleggers"
In His Address.

A large crowd was in attendance at
the Crawford theater on Friday night
to hear judge William Poindexter de-
liver his speech on prohibition The
speech throughout was characterized
by fairness to his opponents who were
sincere in their beliefs. but he showed
no mercy for those whom he termed
-'antis solely for the money that is in
it"
He opened his address by putting all
ants in one Of three classes, the honest
anti, who was sincere in his convic-
ton; the local opinion anti, who be-
lieved that the proposed amendment
was an infringement on personal lib
erty. and the last class, those who
were ants because they were directly
interested in the liquor traffic.
The whole issue of the campaign
was. he declared, to determine wheth-
er these latter political bootleggers'
should stay in power. ITO rid the
state OF them. I would rather see the
amendment passed than receive any
four offices that the people of the state
of Texas could give me-" he declared.
He then gave a resume OF the rise or
the prohibition campaign since 1887
AT that time" he declared, the ants
there has been gradual degeneration
until 20 speak for anti prohibition now
is to be classed with the hired speakers
that they so literally employ.
SAYS 10000 Majority.
In explaining what he termed the
'sbareface hypocrisy" of the ants or
the third class, Judge Poindexter stated
that the liquor interests now favor the
local option so that the old local OPP
-
new statewide reform. IF we lose in
this fight" he declared, 'it will be
because of the failure OF the local op-
tfon vote. and if we secure the full
vote of the dry territory, we viii win
by $4,000 votes, hands down
Quotes from HeraId Interview.
After declaring that the saloons rule
in FL Paso, he quoted from an article
In an issue of The Herald OF Sept. 9,
1907, in which the owner OF the Coney
Island saloon said in an Interview: Il
wish II would come to a question of
state prohibition and I would give $10.-
OOe to the cause Wen need that
$4,000" said the Judge. wen certain
" have to call on him." The inter-
view quoted was with Tom Powers but
Judge Poindexter did not give the name
IN his talk
Calls Local Option a Myth.
Local option is a myth. there is no
such thing" he said. "A city can pass
laws ard ordinances because OF the
charter that has been given to il. but
q precinct or a county cannot do il ex-
cept by the consent Of the state. Drink
ing liquor and selling liquor are two
entirely different things. You can't stop
a man from eating tainted food. but
you can prevent him from selling IT.
In this matter there are no personal
liberty laws violated. for personal lib
erty rests on the good Of the whole
people" he said.
In declaring that the ants were
afraid TO come out and argue the mat
ter. he said: Il will pay Coiquitts
railroad fare and hotel expenses for
the rest of this campaign Il he viii
publicly argue this matter with me.
Why, even the antis admit that the sa-
loon must co. he declared.
Through misrepresentation they try
to misIead the voters. The word use
has been inserted by the liquor pubIci-
" agents into the amendment and in
this way they change the whole sense
OF the amendment and try to show that
the personal liberty of drinking or eat
ing what a man wishes will be taken
from the people" Judge Poindexter
then read a copy of the proposed
amendment. which reads: that the
manufacture or sale Of liquor" shall be
prohibited, nothing being said about its
use.
Judge Poindexter closed his speech
with an appeal 20 the people Of FL
Paso 70 vote as their conscience direct
ed at the next election and not as their
business.
The meeting was held under the aus
pices Of the local executive committee
Of the statewide prohibition organiza-
ton The meeting was presided over
by George B. Oliver and-judge Poindex-
ter was introduced by E. T. Moore. The
benediction was pronounced by Rev.
q I, OyerStreet