El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-06
Both Sides of Prohibition
CONTRIBUTED BY ]. L. CAMPBELL.

cate his property without payment
for the loss sustained through the
confiscation? Morally, no."
Note the answer, Morally, no. Ev-
cry court of last resort passing on the
question says that the liquor traffic
has not even a moral right to exist,
consequently nobody and nothing can
be under moral obligation to 1T. The
compact between the state and the
saloon is of that general character
similar to q bargain between thieves
to conduct a thieving business.
Question and answer read:
20. Would the defeat Of statewide
prohibition change existing con-
ditions in Texas, increase the num-
Der of saloons or make 1t more
difficult to destroy the saloon in
any community where the ma
jority of public sentiment favored
such action? It would not"
The correct answer Is: 1T WILL"
Defeat of statewide prohibition in Texas
would entrench the liquor traffic and
increase its violations of the liquor
laws. Under the law, Ell Paso would
be entitled to only so saloons if she
had not more than that when the last
law was passed She has more than
100. Eboldened by the defeat of pro-
f1ibition, the liquor traffic would IN
crease the existing number of saloons
in the large cities of Texas.
Question 10 and answer read:
40. If prohibition carries what
would be the effect upon the pres
ent local option laws which it has
required "a years to perfect? 1t
would destroy local option laws
which have required years to per-
feet and have passed through va
rious tribunals of the state and
received their final interpretations
from the courts Of last resort. 1t
will take years for new enact
ments and still greater number
of years for the courts to inter-
pref any new laws"
Constitutional prohibition will make
local option statewide option against
the saloon. Under IL, necessary legis-
lative enactment will be simple and
direct. All legal status will be taken
away from the liquor traffic and there
will be no constitutional questions to
consider. The liquor traffic will then
be an outlaw. This will not require 81
years nor even one year. Local OPP
ton laws by express provision of the
amendment will remain in full force
and effect until constitutional prohi-
bition is made effective by simple and
efficient legislation. In addition and
at the same time, common law injunc-
ton is available against violations OF
the constitutional provision. This also
answers questions IL and II.
Question Is and answer read:
rs. Will the defeat of statewide
prohibition bring peace? 1t Will
Experience has shown that this
agitation springs up and finally
crystalizes into the form of state
wide submission and its defeat has
uniformly brought political peace
for q quarter of a century after the
decision of the people had been
registered"
The correct answer is: 1T will not"
Prohibitionists are not looking for
peace with dishonor God forbid that
Texas should purchase % years of in
famous peace through continuation of
The unhoIy alliance with the saloon. 1t
S vain to cry peace, peace when there
s no peace" God and the good men and
women of Texas can not and will not
surrender to this evil. Defeated for a
time, they may be- Triumph in the
end, they shall This also answers
questions 13 and IA.
Question Il and answer read:
81. What has been the attitude
Of the national Democratic and Re
publican parties on the question
OF SumpIuary legislation! Inc
Republican party has frequently
declared against sumptuary legis-
lation, and the Democratic party
from the time OF Thomas Jeffer-
son to the present day. has in each
and every national platform de-
clared against sumptuary legisla-
ton under which statewide prohi-
bition is classed."
This is completely answered by the
,act that Republican states of the
north and, especially, Democratic
states of the south have prohibited the
liquor traffic. There is a fundamental
Inference between prohibiting an in
lerent evil and regulating the wages
# laboring men, If statewide prohibit |
ion is sumptuary legislation, so is |
by local option.
j. L. Campbell.