The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-25
PEOPLES FORUM
To Banish Whiskey From America.

str,-on sunday June II. was accosted by
one Of my Geacons after the service. Who vayc
a pamphlet and typewriter lettar, Which
found In he a cpoy Of the speech of Hon
Royal f, Cabell against Statewide prohibition
with the letter enclosed from Secretary Ben
p owen asking that the contents bo carefully
read and an invitation to cooperate etc The
contents were read and reread, with ire re-
sui that the good man was riled. He stated
that MANY Of the most prominent men in his
community had received copies ard ne one
knew how the names were gotten. lie assed
me to make some comment l therefore reg
space in your valuable columns to -7g 1ast a
word.
have read carefully for the frs, time the
address Of Mr.. Caben and the first tyn heads
caught my eye and these smack ~ tnconsis-
tency ana hypocrisy--"Loca1 Self Government
and Let Each Community Decide for Itself"
I happen TO live in community that has de-
cided against whissey. but are We allowed to
enjoy and enforce this right? ! fhiuk not. for
the very communities that are now crying so
loud for the privilege of local self-governmont
have flooded community with literature and
vhiskey, and boys yet in their carly teens"
can order and get all they want and we are
helpless because the community that Is now
demanding the right of self government re-
fuse us the very identical privilege that they
are demanding, Talking with friend recently
who tried TO advance argument in favor
Of whiskey. he said to me: why Mr.. P
do you know what our dispensarF has done
for u.s." l said quickly: NO. hut l know what
it has done for us twenty miles away He
looked surprised and asked; "What ?"
answered: Il. has sent many of our boys
home drunk several times
This IS a sample Of local self government
regulation and all the other stock arguments Of
those who opposed to prohibition.
\ campaign Of education needed This is
literally true and we are doing this very thing;
hut teaching our men that this is not
a matter cf revenues, deficits or surpluses, but
a great eternal, moral question Of right and
wrong
prohibition does not prohibit" suppose this
is true Then, to he consistent, should ask
for the repeal Of every law that was ever made,
both divine and human. The pecalogue is
clearly pr hihstive. for eight out Of ten begin
with the words Thou shalt not" Why not
say TO the world, Let these be annuiled? Why
not repeal cverr law upon our statute books?
None prohibits perfeetly, But know that
prohibition docs prohibit and perhaps as nearly
perfectly any other human law
Not long since I asked splendid police ofi-
Ger in Of our large cities, man who has
been the force nearly twenty Eve years to
give me the naked facts in regard to his OK
peflehce, hoth unher wet anu drN iegtmes. lie
answered that when whiskey was not sold in
the city they the police force, did not
their salaries" They had little to do He
also stated on his experience az twenty-five
years the force that in practically every
instance the blind tigers under prohibition
those who sold whskey without license
when the legalfzed b1r ftourfshed
2 That prohibition increases crime. social dis
order and corruption is bald statement the
falsity OF Which may be easily proved by the
condition Of every town and village wher4 that
r. 4rfnd n. sgs ass