The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-04

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.---Rip Van Wrinkle would never
have known that he was out of date
had he not walked up. The most char
liable construction that can be placed
upon the prohibition views of some
people is that they have not walked up
to what is going on are behind the
times and don't know II.
story Is told of Il boy who caught
a box full of humblebees and carried
them TO school in his pocket, intending
10 let them out and have some fun.
somehow the lid got OFF and the bees
We're having stinSing good time In
ms pocket. While crouched down TO
said: George Slocum, sit up there and
go to work" Il can't, cause somethin,
goin' on down there you don't know
noth M about" Something is going
on In this twentieth century that some
people don't know nothin' about" We
are not talking temperance to-day as
we did century ago. Prohibition Of
scientific grounds. and deals with a
Ganserous, narcotic, habit forming
drug called alcohol, placed by advanced
| scholarship In the same category with
Ccocaine, opium. aulnhonal and other
IKE drugs. and with them has been
! ruled out OF the list OF proper bever-
AS law prohibition is Justly subject
! 20 no more criticism than Is the pro
hibition of any other drug with which
alcohol Is classed, to which latter pol
4 CNCeDt
miserable slave to the drug or the man
VINO Is Interested In it's sale
substitute cocaine or opium for al
cohci. and then notice how quickly the
staple argument against prohibition of
| Tic liquor traffic resolves itself into a
reductio ad absurdum"
prohibition of cocaine and opium is
| a, cardinal dogma OF the paternaiistic
theory and scheme OF government
which proposes to regulate the morals
manners and opinions Of the people
by act OF assembly. Prohibition Of
lying on the Spy system, has every
where substituted corrupt Indulgence
| Tor honest taxation.
revenue, has fostefed smuggling and
BY prostituting law brought 1t into
contempt; and last but not least, pro-
hibit and has nowhere expelled their
use or sensibly reduced intcmperance
| in the same
In the rural district. which. because
| OF its isolation, can have no adequate
police protection, prohibition of CO.
caine and opium NAV be made effec-
tual, and the "dens" and "joints." voted
out by united public sentiment, may
But in tho village or town which
mas ample means of maintaining or
vided. the attempt OF part of tho people.
| representing the majority, to prohibit
their use to the other part represent
| ing the minority. is not only adverse to
| the spirit OF our free institutions, but
| futile in purpose. bringing the law into
violation and discredit. This Is espe-
cially true where the village or town
has been coerced by the residue Of the
county. which Is able 70 compel their
prohibition for Itself. but which can
| not police the town.
| The Disparity in this regard between
the law and contempt for the law In
creasee with the size OF the communl-
Ity until II attains the numbers enti-
| Ting 1t to be called city, where
all Efforts at their prohibition becorn
| preposterous and recoil upon them
| selves and the people.
| The experience ~ every people who
| has tried the drastic method Of fore
Ing people by law to think as they
| think and to do as they do, has con-
Armed this statement at once of fact,
OF logic and OF ethical principle. from
Maine to Alabama. from Texas to Kan
sas.
Where conditions Of public sentiment
Tor tho law prohibiting cocaine and
opium do not prevail. the attempt Us
not only futile. but also brings law
into odium and defilcnont. sowing the
dragons teeth of prose ription and in
tolerance bitterness and reprisal. Ia
morality. u. q. TAYLOR,
Director Scientific Temperance Fedora.
ton, Boston, Mase