The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-16

Editors Note-This space is re-
served for communications on the To-
cal option election. All letters must
bear the name and address of the
writer's. Contributions will appear in
the order received.]
THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
That the liquor dealers of America
are truly panic stricken at the devel-
opment of temperance sentiment can
not be more clearly illustrated than by
a survey of one of their own utter
ances. An editorial in the National
Liquor Dealers Journal shows clearly
that the liquor business is preparing
to attend it's own funeral. 1t is an
extraordinary confession of fact and
fear. ITO U.S. says the writer of the
editorial, there is the handwriting on
the wall, and its Interpretation spells
doom"
This is the quotation in part as it
appears in the current issue of the
Outlook:
The prohibition fight henceforth
will he nation wide. and contemplates
writing into the national constitution
a prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of all alcoholic beverages. To
accomplish this result will require the
ioSihNo'ioh VI Inn odL VI Iva ~
eight states Of the Union. Of these
nine are already in line through state
Maine, Kansas, North Da.
kota. Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia,
Tennessee. North Carolina, and West
Virginia. The last five have been add
ed within a period Of six years. In
addition to these there are eighteen
states in which a major part of the
people live in territory made dry by
local option. and in which we may
he assured prohibition sentiment pre-
dominates.
THE most influential argument
against prohibition is that it is not
effective. that prohibition doesn't pro
hibit This is not basic or moral :;
the fact of failure to enforce is no
argument against even the expediency
much less against the moral issue in
volved. Ultimately all questions must
be settled by moral standards; only in
this way can mankind be saved from
self-effacement. The liquor traffic can
not save itself by declaring that the
government is incapable of coping with
the problem it presents. when the
peonle decide that it must 90, it will
be banished.
'F'or this the liquor business is to
blame: it seems incapable of learning
any lesson of advancement or any mo
tive but profit. To perpetuate itself
1t has formed alliances with the slums
that repel all conscientious and patri-
otto citizens. 1t deliberately aids the
most corrupt political powers, and
backs with all its resources the most
unworthy men, the most corrupt and
recreant officials. 1t does not aid. the
purlticatOn of municipal. state or ma
tional administration. Why Because
Il 10" 80 ask immunity for its own law
lessness.
me case of the liquor traffic is
called for adjudication by the Ameri-
can people, and must be ready for
trial. Other cases may be called lat
err. but the one before the court can
NOT be postponed. There are
billions of property involved, but when
the people decide that THE TRUTH
is being told about the alcoholic 1iouor
trade the money value will not count
for conscience aroused puts the value
OF man above all other things"
This is not a criticism by the Anti
Saloon League. but fearful con.
fesson by the national liquor dealers
in their own Journal. Will Mr.. Cor.
don please tell the people of Rich
mond whether this lis Gods truth
every word of it," (Which can not be
"ontroverted or denied" or is it Just a
collection of nice sentences" in short
only a classic?"
The liquor dealers in their Journal
confess that progress will inevita bly
overWhelm them. 1t Is, therefore, ur
to the people of the Panic-Proof CITY
TO be in the van of progress Let us
not forget the last sentence of the
quotation: conscience aroused put the
value of man above all other things
FRANCIS G.. ANSCOMB.