The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-01-07
GsEATEsT TALK
FEST KNOWN
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ment viii go to the Legislatures of
the States. If three-fourths of the
States, by their Legislatures, accept
or ratify the amendment, it will be-
come a part of the organic law if
the nation.
"The votes of thirty-siX States are
necessary for the ratification of the
amendment. Twenty-eight States are
ready to meet the issue-that is,
twenty-eight States will accept the
amendment. We require the votes
of eigth more States. We are cleo
pioneering now to get them.
"The amendment 1--WE had hoped
3
would be passed by the present Con-
gress, but we long ago decidede that
il il failed we should vigorously press
it to a vote during the sessions of
the new Congress, which was elected
in November, just pas. Failing to
have the amendment acted on by
ihe new House of Representatives
we shall go to the country in 1915
and try to lect a House of Repre-
sentatives that will not only bring
the amendment to vote, but will
pass it and straightway send it to
the States for their action.
Patterson Turns Prophet.
II am no dreamer in matters of
legislation. My experience has made
me a political man. My judgment,
therefore, ought to be worth some
thing. | say now and say it solemn
ly that inside of ten years-perhaps,
in five years-the liquor business will
be outlawed by the Constitution.
But" / said, do you suppose that
such an amendment could be en-
forced
"The liquor men think So" Gov.
Patterson answered. "They always
say that prohibition does not pro-
hibit, that it even increases the con-
sumption of their product. If that
be true. why do they oppose pronibi-
ton? Why are they spending inn
mense sums of money at this moment
in their efforts to meet the argyll
mentS and activities of the Anti
Saloon League.
1T is likely that liquor will be
made after it smanufacture has be-
come a srime by law of the nation
Murder is nowhere permitted, but
murders do occur. The knowledge
that men have about distilling whiskey
and brewing beer can't be legislated
out of their heads. One made the
liquor will be sold. All this is adj
mitted.
"But the manufacture of liquor will
have to be done privately, very pri-
vately. 1t will go into the list of
crimes and counterfeiting. Spurious
money is printed, but it is not printed
onenly. Men hide themselves in cell
lars and garrets while engaged III
that particular undertaking. Nor will
liquor be sold publicly. Those who
buy it will have to deal in alleys
after shutdown or in holes in the
ground during, daylight.
There will be no saloons. l took
my first drink in saloon when l
was 20 years old. | didn't want it,
but drank 1t so as to please my as
sociates. Out in Kansas there are
thousands of young married men and
women who have never seen even
the outside of a saloon. The first
drink that boy takes, is nine in
stances in ten, obtained in place
where liquor is publicly Sold"
Picture of q MOOnshiner.
ut is a penitentiary offense to make
moonshine whiskey. But there are
stills in the mountains. A miserably
poor, humpbacked old farmer living
in wretched cabin, has an acre of
corn on the side of the steep hill. We
wants to get his wife calico dress or