Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-07-17

lean people. speaking through the FEEDER
al government. their only collective
m0uthpiece in 4 governmental sense. will
declare that the liquor traffic is IN out
law in every part Of the United States.
that the Federal government shall be- I'm
powered % enforce such declaration IN
concurrence and only in concurrence
with the States. and that those States
which have no laws against the traffic
and desire no laws against il have not
the right 10 harbor so frightfml = menace
10 the happiness and prosperity Of the
Nation. Under this amendment no state
will be deprived Of the power 10 lcgislate
against the traffic.
we want the battle "a continue In
family. precinct. county. State and Ma
ton. No unit Of government ar of so.
ciety is too small. no unit j. too large
to have a place in the ranks now gath
ering for this conflict under the banners
of Almighty God. The liquor traffic j. So
firmly i~ntrenched i'm some sections Of
the country that national action will be-
necessary 10 cxterminate IL. We are not
simply citizens Of States. We are Amcri
rams above all things else. We can not
wrap ourselves in the mantle Of 4 mar
row lOcaliSm. We can not successfully
combat national evils by confronting
them only in our immediate territory.
What would he thought " the man who
after apparently conquering the flames
i'm his own room in "A hotel would in
fancied security sit gravely down H.
watch the fire dcvnur every other por
ton Of the structure Let me tell YOU
that if the liquor traffic is permitted tO
take refuge ia one state or IN 4 few
States ID will he only matter Of time m
til the whole battle must be- refoueht in
every part Of the Union.
Let me pay the liquor forces the tri
butte Of saving that they are a. Shrewd
and ~tircleSS u set aS ever vexed human
ity in the cause Of evil. They told MS
when State wide prohibition was first
discussed. that the country was the prop
unit of local self government. Now. when
Nationwide prohibition is cOntem
plated. they say the State IL the proper
unit. They are the most ~zealOns defend
.ers of local self government the world
ever saw. but they always make the Ia
rality small enough To leave the liquor
traffic IN operation somewhere beyond
us borders. Let prohibitionists be not
deceived. The cry of local self govern
mcnt : and state rights" l. being raised
today in the interest OF the liquor traf
fic. Some prohibitionistS are being influ
enced by the cry. but they will soon sec
the real situation and join their brcth.
rem on the fighting line.
Al area equal TO nearly three fourthS
~ the national territory containing
about half our population has been vot
ed dry. bat from the citadcls in certain
sections the liauor traffic still floods
he land with its destructive tide. The
consumption 81 intoxicating liquors il
increasing. II was greater last year than
ever before. Men. women. and children
are Succnmbing To H. p%itiless advance.
The devastation would be far more rap
id hut for prohibition in many States
and counties. vet ID j. nevertheless IN
the increase. state wide prohibition il
good. and we must fight for il at every
opportunity. The Webb law is good, and
we must preserve ii. But not until the
american people a. q whole unite and
,cting through their collective Govern
mcnt say that the liquor traffic shall
.NiSt nowhere within our borders will
The body Of this death be- permanently
lifted.
Gentlemen. il is safe to say that MANY
millions of the American people desire
this amendment submitted. Whether YOU
believe in il or not. 1--WE the American
people . chance 10 discuss il and To pass
upon il. III il should hc rejected. one
phase 81 a great issue will have been
definitely settled al least for a long pc
riod. If il should be- adopted. the bless
ingS of heaven will ~ yours for having
lided in securing one Of the mightieS,
reforms OF time. We believe that we are
entitled 10 have this tremendous qnes
ion submitted az the American people
,cting through the American States. All
that we ask j. the American privilege
md the American right ~ presenting
our cause Ia the proper forum ~ Ameri
AN constitutional opinion.