The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-08-22

further, when asked for advice and
hight upon this subject for the
Worklngmen of Texas by Labor Or
ganiZer &. w. Wopdman, of Fort
Worth, when be declared empha-
lcally against prohibition, saying :
Prohibition simply means the
creation of deceit, the breaking of
the law, the imposslbllity of it's
enforcement and the substitution
OF the worse form of poisonous
drinks Tor ordinary drinking. The
liquor traffic ought to be regulat-
jed according to experience and
common sense. You know my stand
IN favor of personal freedom and
my objection to the attempt to reg
ulatc personal habits.'
The head of the great American
Federation of Labor is strongly
backed up and supported in his
stand against prohibition by the
West Virginia State Federation of
Labor, which unanimously passed
the following resolution at its fifth
Iannual convention, held in the city
Of Wheeling, May - to II, 1912:
Whereas, BY an enactment of
the last legislature of the State Of
y est Virginia, there will be sub
mlttcd to the voters of the State
at the general election to be held in
November, 1912, an amendment to
n" State Constitution, prohibiting
within this State, the manufacture
ale and keeping for sale of malt,
vlnouS or splrituous liquors, wine.
porter, ale, beer, or any drink.
mixture or preparation of like IA
lure, and
Whereas, Experience has dem
onstrated the futility and incffect-
LIKENESS Ct prohibition and has al
ways been the means of depriv-
ing great numbers of tradesmen
from gaining livelihood at their
.chOsen occupation, and
Whereas, Prohibition in West
Virginia would mean the total DIES
tructlon Of industries wherein
thousands Of oar fellow unionists
earn their livlihood, we believe it
to be the highest function of the
trade union movement to render
all possible support and assistance
ito its constituent parts, whenever
land wherever they may be threat
tened with grave economic injury.
therefore be it
Resolved, BY the State Fedora
Itlon Of Labor, in annual cOnvrn-
ton assembled, that we hereby de-
clare against the ratification Of
said constitutional amendment, and
hereby most earnestly appeal to
Jail tradcsmcn and their friends to
use all honorable means to defeat
said constitutional amendment at
the general election to be held in
November next"
The Missouri State Federation
of Labor stands for temperance,
but not prohibition, saying:
Resolved, That the Missouri
Estate Federation Of Labor, in con-
|vcntion assembled, declare itself
|opposed to the doctrine Of prohibit
ton under whatever from advocat-
jed. In taking this position against
prohibition, however, we wish it to
be understood that we favor tenn
Ipcrance as against prohibition and
desire the strictest regulation and
control of the so-called liquor traf-
fic, and we call upon and urge our
fellow workers in every county and
city in the state to use every hon
orable means to defeat prohibi-
ition."
The Massachusetts State Fcdcr9-
ton Of Labor, after an investiga-
|tion Of the operation Of prohibi-
ton, declared:
"The absurdty Of prohibition
has been amply demonstrated in
the Massachusetts cities, in which
this policy has been given a trial.
: 1t has, they say, neither brought
about improved moral conditions
or anything of valde or benefit
economically. 1t has failed to eIe-
vate the moral standard of the
cities and has robbed many Of our