Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-12-18


of September 10. 1913. Remember
this article is not ths'work Of the Sab
bath School. The W. c. T u, The
Anti Saloon League or any prohibition
organization bat is copied verbatim from
Ths-I.laset Dea,ess Jearrsl. Read it.
I REAL PROHIBITION sITUArIoN.
a Truthful Statement Of How Matters
Stand Fabiic.y Grsn liquor
QUESTION, A Look at Things
just 81 They Are.
It s.aiways best for normal people to
look at things as the are; reality may
be obseLred to the sick or feeble mind
ed IN certain circumstances, but de-
ception is apoor evidence of friendship;
partnership with blinded eyes only leads
the way to ruin. and self-deception is
the worst of all.
Let Us look at things as they are and
in face of the enemy dare to consider
and concede his strength. Knowing his
plan Of battle we can better arrange
our forces for his defeat, rightly esti-
mating his strength We can better,pro-
vide to meet it.
The prohibition fight henccforth will
be Nation wide; and contemplates
writing into the National constitution
a prohibition Of the manrfacfure and
sale of al alcoholic beverages. To ac-
compIish his result will require the
ratification. of 36 OF; of the 48 States in
the Union@
OF these nine are already in line
through State prohibition Maine, Kan
sas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Miss
issippi, Georgia. Tennessee SNorth
Carolina, West Virginia. The LAST FIVE
have been added within period of six
years.
In addition to these there are 10
States in which maje part of the peo-
Pile live in territory made dry by local
option, and in which we may be assur-
ed prohibition continent predominates
If the people in these States who are
opposed TO the liqi.or traff. demand it
their legislatures will undoubtedly rati-
fly National amendment.
The mostinfuential argument against
prohibition is that it is not effective;
that Prohibition don't prohibit.
This is rot basic or moral. the fact of
failure to enforce is no argument again
st even the expediency. much less
against the moral issue involved. :
Ultimately ali questions must be set
tied by moral standards; only in this
way can mankind be saved from self
efTacement The liquor traffic cannot
save itself by declaring that govern
ment is incapable Of coping with the
problem it presents; when the people
decide that it must go, it will be ban
ished,
We are not discussing the benefit or
justice of prohibition; bat its possibili-
ty and its probability in present cir
cumstances
To us there is, "The handwriting on
the wall and its interpretation spells
doom.
For this the liquor business is to
blame, il seems incapable Of learning
any lesson Of advancement, or any mo-
tive but profit.
To perpetuate itself, it, has formed
alliance with the slums that repel all
conscientious and patriotic citizens.
It deliberately aids the most corrupt
political powers, and backs with all of
its resources the most unworthy men,
the most corrupt and recr+ant officials.
1t does not aid the publication of mu
nicipal, State or National administra-
ton,
Why ? Because it has to ask immu
nifty for its own lawlessness.
That this condition is inherently and
Inevitably necessary we do not believe,
but it has come to be fact, and the
public which is to pass on the matter
In its final analysis. believe anything:
bad that anybody can tell it Of the liquor
business.
Why ? Let the leaders Of the trade
answer.
Other lines of business may be as bad
or even worse, but it is not so plainly
In evidence.
The case of the liquor traffic is called
for adjudication by the American people
and must be ready for trial.
Other cases may be called later, but
the one before the court cannot be post
poned But as in the past, the men
most concerned are playing for post
ponement. not for equittal Is it be-
cause they fear the weakness Of their
defence that they fear to go to trial?
| Looking the facts in the face is best
There are billions IF property involved
and an industry of great employing and
taxpaying ability; but when the people
decide that the truth is being told about
the alcoholic liquor trade, the money
value will not count, for conscience
aroused puts the value of man above
all other things.
The writer believes that prohibition
is theoretically wrong, but he knows
that theories however well substantial
ed, may be overthrown by conditions.
as has often been done in the world 8
history.
In this country we have recently
swept aside one Of the fundamental
theories Of the Trainers of our Con-
stitution is going from representative
to direct government we are on the
L Z !. ). = :. u