The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-25
vOX POPULI.
MRS. SHEAR ANSWERS
A CONTRIBUTOR
Editor Pensacola Journal.

Editor Pensacola Journal.
New spaper personalities are in bad
taste, and imposition on the public
who don't care a rap whether Mrs.
Smiths chickens flew over Mrs.
Browns fence or not, but when a prin-
& pie is assailed, that is a very diff
ferent matter. To remain silent under
such circumstances is cowardly. On
questions of national Importance the
personal opinions of the average man
or woman count but little. But when
q body of men like those in the United
States congress are willing to stand up
before the people of this nation and.
without hesitation and discussion, pass
the Webb bill over the Presidents veto.
we who can read the handwriting on
the wall know that the 'legalized liquor
traffic Is doomed.
The only trouble with some well
meaning but narrow minded people,
who are trying to compel others to en-
dure the saloon because they like it, is
that they live in a teacup and can't see
over the top. When such men as the
late Generals Miles and Grant and the
present secretary of state, VIM J.
Bryan, condemn the saloon, guess we
can worry along without the help of
the small fry.
know an old lady who really be-
anybody with half sense knows that.
If the earth was round, we'd all roll
off. So far. her opinion has not al
tered the shape of the earth, so we
need not worry about it. There are
good many precedents in the Old Tes-
lament that we would not care to fol-
low. Your correspondent may not be
aware of the fact, but the world has
advanced considerably since that day.
words, Woe unto him that giveth his
neighbor drink. that puttest thy Lottle
to him and maketh him drunken
We might say it is not carrying pis-
to,s, but the abuse of the privilege,
that causes trouble. Still we have
laws prohibiting the practice, and no
enc wants them repealed. If some one
will prove to me that the use of mus
lard or pepper, vinegar. tea or coffee
has ever caused a man to go home and
beat his wife, or to take the last cent
from his family, or to murder his own
son as happened not long ago from
the use of whiskey. I win go to ITALIA
hassee at once and try to induce our
legislators to pass a bill prohibiting
the use Of these five articles
Your correspondents remark about
the man who carries pla nks ten hours
day, is a SUR and insult to the labor
ing men of Pensacola. There may be
few men who have not studied the
question, who really believe that such
drinks are good for them, but their
number is growing gradually smaller
and beautifully less, as will be proven
when we have another local option
election.
If the men of Pensacola could hear
| the sad story l listened to a short
time ago at a meeting OF the Woman's
| Christian Temperance Union, rave
| faith enough in southern manhood to
believe that the door of every saloon
| ' I'D be closed within twenty-four
kours I can give her story in few
words. but I cannot picture the sad,
sweet face or the tender accents of her
voice as she spoke. of her boy. She
said:
II love my boy and he loves me- He
Is good boy. but he has a weakness.
/ He never drinks at home but he Just
/ cannot pass the open door of a saloon.
Twice I went down town and went
into the saloon through the crowds of
men and brought my boy home Once
he as just raising the glass to his Iips
and said. My boy, YOU have had
more than enough: come home with
me- He came without a word The
men wanted to call a hack. but I said,
/ No. want nothing but my boy Ny
oldest son asked me not to go into the
| saloons any more, so / don't go now
but when payday comes and my boy
don't come home. know where he is.
and I pray day and night that God
will put it into the hearts of men to
close the saloons and save my boy, and
know He will do it because He has
promised TO answer prayer"
| Can the voters of EScamhia county