The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-16

press ever alert looking on and GER
tain to see I'm time Ene comedy OF the
situation. there would seem To be no
possibility OF our having any pro-
hibition In this country. and this not
withstsnding the millions that have
been spent In fighting the liquor trait
nc. and the millions of properties de-
stroyed by the passage OF so-called
reform legislation. and notwithstand-
ing the prayers and the tears and the
appeals OF hundreds of thousands of
good. earnest and emotional women.
OF course. ~ is easy to understand
that the men connected with the
LIQUOR trade do not desire prohibition,
and are unceasing In their efforts to
prevent the adoption of such laws or
to bring about their repeal. These
men do not believe I'm prohibition.
either as to principle or as to prac-
tice. and furthermore. they have vast
financial interests at stake and. there
fore. a N not TO te expected that they
would encourage such legislation.
The Anti-Saloon League. however
and the prohibition party. and the
churches affiliated with these move-
ments. and the w. c. t. u. and what
are known as the reformers In gen.
erai. profess to believe I'm prohibition
I'm the matter both OF principle and
practice. and they certainly give an
immense amount Of time. and they
subscribe or collect millions of dollars
and they keep up perpetual agitation
In favor OF what they call prohibitory
laws. and In favor OF the destruction
without compensation of the proper
ties OF distiiiers. brewers, wholesalers
and retailers
To hear a prohibitionist speak, or
10 hear a woman connected with the
w. c. T. u. recite an essay or poem
I'm regard to- drink. one would natur-
ally suppose that they would go to any
extreme to prevent the use OF an ar
ticie to which they attribute 80
per cent OF our Ills.
IL is remarkable fact. however.
that the leaders In this prohibition
crusade show a greater fear of real
prohibitory law than do the men who
are connected with the manufacture
and sale OF alcoholic beverages.
The older men In our trade
have become convinced that IL pro-
hibition really prohibited IL would
be repealed. and for that reason they
would welcome law that would pro-
hibit not merely the sale OF liquors,
but the purchase. possession and use
as well.
We could have no better object les
son than to have a State adopt such
legislation for the purpose OF finding
out whether the majority of the peo-
pie In that state really desire prohibit
Ion OF the use OF liquor. or whether
they are simply making a pretense for
the purpose OF satisfying their con-
science or of deceiving one another.
Tho leaders on the prohibition
side. however. will not stand for a
law that actually prohibits the indl-
vidusl from securing for his own use
liberal supply OF whiskey. wine or
beer. These reformers seem TO be
very greatly concerned as to the
rights OF the individual In such mat
ters. and they throw up their hands
In horror at the suggestion OF n law
that would prohibit a man from hav-
ing liquor In his home.
That this In true Is shown conclu-
svely by the fact that. notwithstand-
ing the Passage OF the Webb law,
there is no territory except few coun-
ties In Iowa. and a limited section
known az Indian Territoy. and under
the supervision OF the general govern
ment where dealers In wet States
are prohibited from shipping liquor to
individuals In dry States and coun-
ties I'm such quantities as they may re-
onire for their own consumption.
In North Carolina. for instance. II
was evidently feared by the good pro-
hibitionists that the Webb law would
actually shut liquor out of the State.
and tho legislature. composed almost
entirely of what are known as pro-
hibitionists. Immediately amended the
prohibition law so as To- make II legal
for dealers In wet" States To- ship 10
consumers In North Carolina not In
excess of one gallon at "A time To each
consumer.
or course. this Limitation has been
dispensed with and shipments up To
five gallons are being made in North
Carolina without any hindrancc. but
even ~ the law were absolutely enforc-
ed u In hard To imagine why an In.
AlylAnaI In anv hind ,f