The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-08-29
CANNON ANSWERS
Z JOE 7. ROBINSON


lCBlNLlioCt y VI. = L-.-
present system is about as good as
we could hope to get. But we should
not forget that our present system of
local option was not inaugurated pri-
marily to regulate, but to suppress
the evil. 1t has been apparent to
some of US for some time that we
have gained about all by our local OPP
ton laws that we can hope to gain.
The centers where saloons still hold
sway have such control of the cleo
ton machinery in those counties that
it is practically impossible to vote it
out by present methods. Nothing less
than a statewide vote and a statewide
law will ever Danish the saloon from
such places as Fort Smith, Little
Rock and Pine Bluff That is why the
saloon people are fighting so hard for
local option as against statewide pro-
hibition in the present campaign.
You also state that sin states
where statewide prohibition laws
have been enacted, many localities
where the sentiment is in favor of the
sale of liquor under license, openly
disregard the law and hold it in con-
tempt" Could not the same be said
with equal force and truth with ref
erence to gambling and the social
vice, to murder and other forms of
crime? And should our laws against
these be repealed, forsooth, because
there are communities where some of
the people disregard the law and hold
in all such communities deserve moth
ing at the hands of the good people
in other counties in helping them to
obtain by a statewide act what they
can never secure without statewide?
Believing that the public interests
will be conserved by recognizing local
sentiment where this condition pre-
walls, | doubt the wisdom of passing a
statewide prohibition bill for Arkan-
sas.' Truly, the people of this great
state are much indebteded to you both
for the wisdom and the logic of your
position and opinion. Wait until all
the people are good and honest before
you pass a law to prohibit theft.
Wait till all murder has ceased and
anger and malice have given place to
brotherly love before you pass a law
making murders felony. Wait till
all the saloonkeepers have filled their
Golfers with gold stained with blood,
wait till all politicians who hope for
graft and gain by lending their influ-
ence and their vote to perpetuate the
traffic have satisfied themselves with
corruption money, wait till all the
men and women in every community
who drink the stuff have stated them
selves with drunkenness till they are
ready to quit before you violate the sa
cred precincts of their personal lib
erty by passing. statewide prohibi-
ton law. That's logic, that is. Don't
pass a statewide law lest we should
not be able to enforce it! That
sounds like nothing but the most con-
temptible cowardice to me.
You protest that you are not con-
troled by the "liquor interests
Truly, there are thousands in Arkan-
sas who could wish that you were sac
rificing yourself for a better cause.
Behold a myrter, who, without com
pensaton from any man or men, de-
liberately takes his stand with the
very men who are fighting to perpetu
ate the most gigantic and corrupting
evil that ever fastened itself on the
vitals of any commonwealth.
Again | say that admire your
frankness in giving to the public so
explicitly your position with refer
ence to this great question, but there
are many of US who would have been
glad to see you line up with a differ
ent crowd. 1t would have put a great
deal more "stitfening" into your as
surances of enforcing the law after
it is passed. Yours truly,
r. II. CANNON.