El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-22
Prohibition Like Banquo's Ghost
1t Viii Commands the Time and Attention Of Its Self
Alleged Executioners
By J. L CAMPBELL.

Chou eanst not say 1 did 1t; never
shake thy CORY locks Mt me- AvHunt
and quit Ely sight! Let the earth hide
| thee-"-Macbeth.
Z IKE Banquo's ghost, prohibition
will not down For particulars,
see the minutes Of the late Demo-
cratic convention. For an issue said
to be dead and buried, it still COM
mands a good deal OF the time and at
tenuon OF its self alleged execution
ers.
But there is a rear reason. Some
issues are susceptible Of but one solu-
tion-the right solution Prohibition is
such an issue As long as there are
mother and father hearts in Texas and
the nation, and the saloons of Texas
and the nation continue to degrade
and destroy the boys and girls OF Texas
and the nation, prohibition will be a
live issue Such an issue cannot be
buried The Democracy Of Texas in
convention lacked the nerve to try It.
try it
Latest Prohibition Plank.
Here is its latest prohibition plank
bastard, neither flesh nor fowl, con-
ceived by mongrel confusion Of NOR
atty with political d0gmas and pre-
1udices: The people Of Texas are to
be congratulated in the fact that the
Democratic primary Of July IS by the
>
ernOr and the defeat OF the demand
for submission Of a prohibition amend
ment has guaranteed that. at least
for a while, the veXatious question Of
prohibition and regulation OF the liquor
traffic will not be seriously agitated
nor used to disturb and annoy the
people and distract their attention, en-
ergy and means from their own and
the states important business affairs
and to this end the determination OF
Mr.. Ferguson as expressed in his open
ing campaign speech to disprOve any
legislation upon the question is most
heartily endorsed and approved"
Some friend OF Ferguson ought to I
tell him that the fires are still burning [
under the boiler and that If he sits on
the safety valve like that. IL will be {
only a question OF time until there will 1
be an explosion that viii start him
on his way to his home in the skies. I
Indeed. there appears to be premOni- /
ton OF something OF the kind under I
the plank which guarantees safety only 4
for at least a while
Mr. Ferguson puts forward a re- I
markable proposition, tO-Wit- Let every
man retain his present convictions on {
prohibition, but do not permit them
to produce or affect any action.
What kind Of morality is that? Can
civilization advance or even survive
on sterilized cOnvictions2
This plank would not have the at
tenuon. energy and means" OF the peo-
pie distracted. from their own and 4
the states important business affairs"
Then why was the plank written? The
liquor traffic takes annually from 4
Texans S92, 10000 in cash. and imposes /
on them economic waste. poverty I
crime, sickness and death It adverse
~ affect sthe whole population II is
annually costing the people Of El Paso
IN cash over $1,000. OOO-more than suf-
ncient TO pay all city, state and county l
taxes. Are not these important BUSH
ness affairs? This plank advocates
rOnCHT -rarfnu n frr1wnrHnr~H ~ &
II excludes one Of the most important Z
Some Comparisons.
compare this issue with some Of
the other issues which have been late
" emphasized. The land plank affects I
not more than 100000 people in Texas.
including women and children. More
over, II proposes to relieve only a part ,
OF the rental burden. On the other I
hand the liquor traffic affects 4,OO0.-
VUO people in Texas, laying upon them I
an economic burden in comparison with I
winch farm rentals are comparatively ]
insignificant. Prohibition proposes to (
relieve not a part only. but ali Of that
great burden Prohibition may be COM I
pared with all other issues before the !
people OF Texas and in every case II
VIII De found to he a problem so i'm
portant that an attempt to ignore II
cannot be justified. Nor is there anv
necessity to ignore one issue because
there are other important ones These /
issues should all be squarely met and
settled on their merits.
Until the liquor traffic is no longer
legalized in Texas, the growing con-
seriousness Of the people that such le-
galizauOn is great evil will keen the
issue alive and all this continued talk
about prohibition in Texas being dead
reminds one Of a small boy whfstlfng
In the dark TO keep up his courage.
PEACE BUILDS; WAR DESTROYS.
Editor FL Paso Herald:
The genius Of modern civilization IS !
peace Throughout the tortuous ages
OF government evolution. war has de- I
stroyed where peace has builded- In
It's terrible alemoic, ancient civiliza-