The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-04-11
MISSISSIPPI.
EX-GOV. GLENN LECTURES ON
PROHIBITION QUESTION.

last Sunday evening TO a large and
interested audience Of our citizens.
The distinguished lecturer was intro
dJced by DR.. c. v Edwards. pastor Of
the First Baptist church, in an appro-
pirate manner.
Gov. Glenn recounted the mserics
following the sale and drinking of
whiskey, and stated that he would
never stop his work in surpressing the
sale Of strong drink until it had been
driven from Mississippi and from the
nation.
He had seen the strongest, bravcst
and truest Of men laid low by
drink, and an untold amount of misery
and suffering followed IN its wake.
The speaker quoted figures which he
stated were absolutely true. 80 l-2
per cent of all the prisoners in penl-
tentlaries were there on account Of
drink; 49 per cent Of those in insane
asylums were there for the same rea-
son. Strong drinks We're responsible
for 60 per cent of all cases of cruelty;
rs per cent Of the old heroes of the
civil war, both north and south. were
now on the charity Of the country and
in different homes. on account of
drink. Drink was accountable for 70
per cent of hoboism, rs per cent of all
crime and 80 per cent Of poverty.
He wanted to know how any one
could stand up and back such curse.
Gov. Glenn told of his visit to the
New Jersey Legislature, when 800
brewers and distllers had been pres
ent, and when he challenged any one
of the 300 men to swear that the sale
Of strong drink was blessing and not
a curse, and not one of the men had
accepted his challenge. He dared any
one to say that it was blessing any
where.
There were only two possible rea-
sons why men countenanced the sale Of
intoxicants: One was avarice, and
the other appetite. He denied that
whiskey selling ever helped commun-
ity or aided business.
He recounted the progress made in
North Carolina since the passage Of
the prohibition law, and declared that
money that formerly went for iptoxi-
cants and into mean old stOmachs, was
now used to put in business enterprises,
to build schools, for health, education
and religion.
If strong drink was a good thing,
why did not the railroads employ
drunken conductors, and brakemen and
engineers? And if it was a good
thing why did not merchants advertise
for drunken clerks and accountants in
their business, and farmers ask for
drunken help?
Data relative to the improvements
in Kansas in the prohibition regime
were read by Gov. Glenn, showing a
decrease in crime, in idiocy and in pov-
erty. In absence of crime Kansas
leads all states and North Carolina was
second, and Mississippi third.
Did the people want the blind tiger
or the school house, decency or crime
and disgrace?
He insisted that the demon of rum
was in the hearts Of the people, and
that everlasting vigilance was the
only method to combat the evil.
No man but knave or fool would
deny that prohibition did prohibit OF
course there might be violations, just
as there were violations of the laws
against murder.
He urged that not only the state and
community should be made dry, but
officers az we'll He related Incidents
how he had forced recaIcitrant officials
in North Carolina to do their duty.
He insisted, however, that the reign
of the liquor man was over, and that
the prohibition flag would soon float
over every state in the Union.
Praise was showered on the work Of
the anti-saloon league in Mississippi.
The speaker claimed that the whiskey
men had gotten in harness, in spite of
the prohibition laws, until the league
began operating in Mississippi eighteen
months ago. Several Of the distribu-
tors had been sent 10 jail. 800 blind
tigers had been convicted and other
good work done. Eighteen months
ago, 5000, 900 gallons Of whiskey were
coming to Mississippi annually. Less
than 100000 gallons per year were
now being imported into Mississippi,
and he predicted in the near future, on
account Of the passage Of the Webb
law, not more than 100000 gallons
would come to Mississippi yearly.
He said the people of the state, men
and women, were in need Of backbone
more than ever before, and but for the
miserable cowardice Of some of our
people, the whiskey curse could be
driven out of the entire nation in five
years.
Nine entire states were already dry
and one half Of the countrys 90 mil
lion inhabitants now live in dry states,
although the anti-saloon league was
only 20 years old.
Gov. Glenn declared that the league
was badly in need Of funds, and closed
by repeated pleas that those present
give literally to the cause.
DR.. Eichelberger accompanied the
Governor here, and made . few caustic
remarks about the Jackson News, the
Vicksburg papers, the Sunhower Toe
/ l. L..