Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-18
prohibition Pretexts.


OMAHA, Nov. ITO the Editor of The
Bee: Thanks for your correspondents
prompt rejoiner to my recent communica-
ton; thanks for the opportunity. Ger
many's most successful system Of gov
eminent needs no defense. but the lies
published about II need a protest. Con-
ditions in darkest Russia In it's present
state of civilization required force TO stop
universal drunkenness. II Is an insult
to the people of the United States TO be
compared with Russian conditions, being
on a much higher plane OF intelligence
and capable of self-control, the highest
object OF education. Prohibitionsts who
practice what they preach are not hypo-
critics, but those who are not total alb
stainers and yet vote for prohibition, are.
All prohibition agitation is based on the
pretext that men are too weak to con-
troll their appetites, and that all tempta-
ton must be removed from them. That
makes moral weakllngs.
Prohibition leaders proclaim that they
do not seek TO prohibit men from drink
ing but carefully refrain from mention
ing that, abolshing the right to sell also
takes away the opportunity TO purchase
and thereby decettfully robs the in
dividual of his guaranteed rights; there
are hundreds of purchasers for every
seller II. as prohibition platforms state
liquor selling is a crime, or the seller a
criminal. what is the liquor purchaser?
Taking my chances on heaven, / would
rather be the man behind the bar than
the purchaser who takes his drink behind
the prescription case in drug store;
he is not only hyproorite. but cow
ard. and the woods are fun Of them.
Now as To a license not being a con-
tract asked the moralists of the United
states. not the lawyers, what they
thought about confiscation without COM
pensation. The assertion that a license
or permit to sell does not legalize the
sale and the seller and the manufacturer,
Is mere sophistry. and all the court de-
cisions rendered to that effect cannot
make it justice. For instance. the slo
cumb law OF Nebraska provided for the
legal manufacture and sale OF LIQUORS
and thereby encourages and protects Il
No court decision can upset the moral
obligations thereby assumed by the peo-
pie.
The United States government Is the
most important partner in the business
OF producing distilled and fermeuted
liquors and derives from Il one-third of
It's entire revenue. Man would not en-
gage In such business were Il not for the
perfectly legal existing demand for the
prpducts OF these industries. There
would be no supply without the demand.
The people no doubt have a right bv
changing the, laws to take away the
privilege to manufacture or sell. but In
doing so they must reckon with the OBJ
LEGATION assumed during the period when
such rights were granted. on the strength
OF which capital was invested in building
up such industries
II the commonwealth needs certain
piece OF property to open streets. to
facilitate traffic or for other public pur-
| poses, II condemns II by due process OF
law, has i appraised and pays for It. II
enlightened public opinion condemns for
alleged public benefit certain industries.
winch uD 10 that time II has legalized. II
must pay for them, or else incur the
charge OF dishonesty. Court decisions
cannot wipe out that moral obligation.
Aoraham Lincoln was honest and
wanted TO reimburse the south for the
liberated slaves. Had his honesty pre-
vailed hundreds OF thousands of precion.
\ lives would have been saved.
! Switzerland, the most successful, denoo-
raey honestly compensates its citizens
/
condemnation and eonfiseation Majori.
ties In prohibition states dishonesty con-
nseate and destroy the property value OF
breYeries and distilleries without com
pensation; that may be considered legal.
but Il is immoral and unjust, and be-
cause there are In those majorit'es a
large per cent Of drinking people II is
also hypoeritioal Whatever the supreme
court Of the United States may have said
about the saloon. It also rendered on jan
uary e. 1914. a decision In a case pertain
ing to the disabling business, In which Il
recognises the same as perfectly law
fuL' No other governments, not even
Russia. would enter into partnership with
its citizens and then destroy their prop
erty without compensation. as prohibition
states have done in this country. In
England when the excise board decide.
to diminish the number Of saloons. the
owners are fully compensated for loss An
stocks. value OF real estate, good win
| fixtures, etc. In one year the British