The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1912-09-02
ANALYzES STATE
WIDE PROHIBITION
VIEWPOINT OF A GIDEON
WRITER CONFIDENT PROHIBI-
TION LAW WILL BE EN-
FORCED IF ADOPTED.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:

The opposition TO statewide prohi-
bition may be considered as comprised
of three distinct classes: Those who
derive financial profit from the liquor
traffic; those who think that it is not
within their province to be concerned
with the social affairs of their neigh
bors, and those who think and argue
that statewide prohibition law
cannot be enforced.
The testimony of the first class is
er parts and is not, therefore, to be
considered as competent evidence or
argument against the pending issue
The second class is comprised of
that element of citizenship which does
not properly comprehend mans re-
Sponsibility as factor IN society.
Seliishness is the root of much evil.
Self qualification, carried to its final
analysis means anarchy or defiance of
all law. 1t is a mistake for one to
assume that he is not his brothers $
keeper. Tennyson eptomizes the
power of personal influence in the one
sentence Il am part of all that |
have ever met" The converse of this
postulate being equally true every
mans life, in moral sense, becomes
the affair of every other man and it
/ is not only ones privilege but his
bounden duty to bring to bear upon
his fellow man such influences "a will
tend to the development of those
| higher and nobler elements of his
character.
1t is likewise mistake for any
community to assume that it is net
within The province of another com
munity to be concerned about its af-
fairs. Our community has no more
/ moral right to harbor an Institution
that floods another community with
baneful influences that one farmer has
to sow tares in his neighbor farmers
field of growing grain. If Lirle
Rock, Pine Bluff, Helena, Hot Springs
and Fort Smith would hedge them
selves about with impenetrablc walls
so that the evil within could not con-
taminate the adjacent country with
out there would be modicum of con-
sistency in their demanding hands
off" from their country neighbors.
But the worthy institutions of the
city are as Indispensable to the aigh.
est interests of the country as are the
resources of the country to sus-
tenance of the city, so that the only
alternation is for city and country to
strive, shoulder to shoulder, foc the
consummation of the highest ideal in
the development of citizenship.
The third class of opponents EN-
braces those who make the specious
plea that prohibition does not pro-
hibit" and those who contend that a
statewide prohibition law cannot be
enforced The carping that ''prohibi-
ton does not prohibit" is too diotic
to deserve notice. The prohibitions
announced from Mount Sinais do not
absolutely prohibit Shall we, there
fore, bid defiance to Gods laws?
1t is possible for a legislature to
enact a law out of harmony with pub
lie sentiment and the enforcement of
such law would, reasonably, be ac-
complished with difficulty But if the
enlightened public sentiment of Ar
kansas crystalizes into law at the
coming election the bill which has
been initiated providing for statewide
/ prohibition, the enforcement of the
law will be backed up bv the same
sentiment thar vii have made il aad
Fit is worse than silly to say that such
a law could not be enforced
The idea of the initiative" rests
upon the sound, basic principle of our
American polty that 1.-The voice of the
people is the supreme law of the land"
and every patriotic law-abiding citi-
zen submits to such an edict. Those
who cannot thus submit ought to cut
allegiance TO the stars and stripes"
and seek asylum under a flag which
stands for their ideas of government.
A GIDEON.
Conway, Ark, Sept. 2.