The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-15

the Roanoke Times): the tendency was
an asset for the saloon. and Its pur-
pose, object, legally legitimate busi-
ness and interest. as well as all It's
Environments and associations, Is to
infiame the tendency to drink so that
II shall become the habit of every man
The tendency to drink ane .he tendency
of the saloon to sell the maximum
quantity, both working to the same
end, will certainly prevail In every
case. unless they are restrained and
overcome by opposing tendencies In the
drinker or his environment which VIII
rescue him before the habit IL formed.
III the habit be formed teven though 1t
does not result in a "disorderly
drunk"), the value OF the man Is mini
mixed. We do not have to look TO
scientists alone to prove this, Tor 'hu-
man experience" (the best guide for
all human action, says the Roanoke
Times). In the world of physical Gull
ture proves It. Take few examples
from the athletic fleld-baseball, foot
ball, intercollegiate and international
boat crews international Olympic
physical and mental efficiency is the
test of fitness. and with one voice 1t is
declared that all who compete must
refrain absolutely from intoxicating
drink. Think of the Giants of New
York, or Athletics of Philadelphia en-
tering contest for baseball champion
pionship with n moderate drinkcr IN
the team! The human experience
LOT the Industrial, manufacturing, and
transportation world proves the same
thing, for every large employer here
either forbids or discourages any use
OF liquor on the part of employees.
The Norfolk and Western railroad
bright under the eyes of the Roanoke
Times), In its published and printed
rules. forbids the use OF '3ntoxicants'
byo employees while on duty and
makes their "habitual use" and the
"freouenting of places where they are
sold" a Sufficient cause for dismissal
so that we are presented with the
spectacle Of the State licensing and
maintaining places of public resort
where 1t is legally permissible and
iegitimate business to invite and Sc
duce its citizens to do that for which
they will be discharged from employ
ment, and the further spectacle OF
men of respectable character and
ability contendsng that this Is not
against morality and decency"
But let US get back to the point now
discussed-that "police protection" does
not reach or suppress the evils. This
Is self evidAnt. from, the fact which
we all know, that the police do not
and cannot intervene UNTIL AFTEF
THE MAN HAS BECOME A "D1soR.
Derby DRUNK ON THE STREET
and a menace to the public peace. Be.
tween the time the man first entered
a saloon and the time he is arrested
as "disorderly." and over the condi.
ton and tendencies which changed tht
man from a good son, husband, father
citizen and efficient worker, into c
| ''disorderly drunk" the police have ns
control and exercise no influence. ant
these conditions being inherent in the
nature of the liquor, drinker and sci.
ler," are not affected in the least de
gree by mere locality or the presence
or absence of police protection"
and since the same causes and condi
tions must produce like results wher
ever they exist. 1t follows as certain
ly as night follows day. that a mar
who honestly favors local prohibi
ton in Tazewell. must favor It II
Richmond and Roanoke. and II he can
not make those cities dry" by local
and organization OF the liquor inter
est): IL he Is honest and consisten
he must favor doing SO by Statewide
prohibition. OBJ Another contention O.
anti-prohibftion Is wholly untrue II
fact, and also wholly inconsistent with
their avowed support of local" pro
hibttion. even II true in fact, and 1t I.
absurdly inconsistent with elementar,
economic law. This contention is tina
Statewide" cannot be enforced in tn,
cities and will not diminish the guam
tity OF liquor consumed, but will B,
merely change from regulated train,
to Illicit traffic. There are three ap
parently conclusive answers to this
First. Such an argument is impossi
BILE for man who honestly avows hi!
support of 'slocal~ prohibition In tn,
rural communities. for II the latter
have been able to enforce 'Tocal'' pro
hibftion reasonably well TALL that car
be expected of any human iaw). WITH
OUT ANY, POLICE PROTECTION
how much better ought large cities
lika- Roanol1e- and Richmond, TODD 81
II they have an HONEST POLICE
FORCE SELECTED FOR THAT PUR.
POSE. second. To say that there will
be some Illicit traffic Is no more thar
to say that men and their measures
cannot be perfect, for the Ten Com.
mandments and all other laws are now
violated every day--sAal we repea
them all for this reasons Third. 1t Is
an fmmutable economic law recognized
by all economist and all Intelligent
men. that any restraint. or burden
legal or natural. put upon the sale OF
any commodity. necessarily tends and
viii diminish the quantity OF that com
modify sold: hence absolute legal pro-
hibition OF the sale OF any commodity
enacted by the people themselves In q
referendum, must of necessity reduce
the consumption of that commodity tc
a minimum in every law abiding com
munity. Every taric law ever passed
In this country by either the Democra.