The Mena weekly star., 1913-02-13
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NO.


 both branches of the Arkansas Gen eral Assembly, the days of legalized saloons in this state are numbered so definitely numbered that all that is necessary to be exact is to refer to a calendar and count the days prior to January 1, 1914.
 The measure that brought this about is novel in way. It is doubtful if such was ever before offered in a lawmaking body. It cannot be called a prohibition law because it does not say that there shall be no saloons, but provides that if the majority of white male inhabitants of a city want saloons they can have them by signing ap- plicatiOn for such and having their names published in the local pa pers for a period of thirty days This, of course, only after the county in which the city is located already has voted for license.
 If this law is signed by Governor Robinson, and it doubtless will be, Arkansas is going to be dry" and the only thing necessary to make it the "dryest' dry state on the map of North America will be the passage and approval of the bill now before Congress prohibiting the shipment of liquor into "dry' territory. That will be the final weight that will push the lid down tight.
 To state 1t another way, there is no question but the legal voters of many localities would continue to vote for license for years to come, but the majority of the white in habitants, men and women, could hardly be placed ill a predicament where they would sign a petition for saloons as provided by this law. It isn't prohibition, but it Is pro hlbltlon-ln effect.
 Of course a succeeding legisla- ture could modify or repeal the act, but 1t is not likely to occur soon-not at least until the people can see such restrictions placed about the sale of intOxicants as will remove for most part the harm that fololWs the present system. If it comes again it will be hedged about with no-treating or similar provisions that will largely remove the temptations that drag young men into habits of intemperance and drunkenness, and thus give them fair chance to develop strong, wholesome manhood-men who can stand upon their own strength without watching or coddling.
 Senators Lundy and Raney each went to Little Rock with a bill in their pockets tending to make Ar kansas dry. On arrival they com pared notes with the result that they formed a partnership bill cov- ering the essential points of both. Then to make dead sure,' they at tached the emergency clause, thus taking away any chance for it going before the people on a ref erendum vote.
 This will, at least, have the ad- vantage of conserving a lot of en- ergy and cash at the next general election. Besides that, who can figure the amount of effort that can be otherwise used that in years past has gone into the selling of liquor, and the efforts of prohibit tionists to keep it from being sold? If this effort were to be put forth for year in building a monument of stone to the fathers of this law it would be as high as Rich Noun tain and cover as much of the earth's surface.
 If The Star were to be asked to suggest a more useful purpose than | monument building to which this force could well be put, it would | not overlook the elimination of the | sale of cocaine, opium, morphine | and the whole list of kindred de- stroyers. The abuse of these in- sidious enemies by the manhood | and wOmanhood of the land is not | guarded against in Arkansas as in many states, and the victims are numbered in thousands.
 There would not be one-tenth | the fight on a law for this purpose as on the one against liquor selling, and the need is as urgent even if it has not been made so openly ap- parent by years of agitation
 |
 MENA I0GES ROAD REVENITE