The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-19


a pFohibitcry law can be enforced Is
successfully as any other law that
has TO dp With 9 great evil and 4 great
reform You cannot expect a pro-
hibitory law TO be so easily enforced
after the stains have been washed out
and the human wrecks cleared away.
There was time when might was
right when the stronger took from
the weaker that which belonged to
the latter. There came a time when
society began to make rules to re.
strain the strong for the protection
of the weak. It is as easy to enforce
a prohibitory law in the beginning of
the new order as it was to enforce
the law OF regulation in the begin
ming OF civilization. Yet is there a
man who would say that society ought
never to have begun regulation to gov
ern the rights of men and restrain
the strong from taking from the weak
simply because 1t would be difficult OF
enforcement? AS enforcement and es-
Enlistment OF regulatory rules in
other lines OF human endeavor have
peen growth, progress, SO must be
the enforcement and establishment OF
prohibitory liquor laws.
Some weeks ago the Hoster Brew
ing company of Columbus. Ohio,
capitilized at $4,000, 900, filed its petit,
ton praying for the appointment OF a
receiver and the winding up OF it's af-
fairs. One OF the causes given for it's
unfortunate financial condition was
that the state Of West Virginia had
gone dry! Only a few days ago a
large bank at Pittsburgh suspended
payment. The statement was given
out that some one connected with the
management of the bank were con-
nected with certain breweries; that
the business of such breweries had
been very much injured and curtailed
by prohibition in West Virginia. And
yet the brewers and the liquor people
generally say that prohibition will not
prohibit!
Let no man in West Virginia be
deceived! West Virginia can only be
made and kept a dry state by Wig
lance and constant effort The liquor
interests have spent a large sum of
money in an effort to break down the
prohibitory laws of the state. Includ-
ed in such expenditure is the employ
ment of the ablest lawyers whose serv-
ices could be had to prosecute pro-
ceedings and defenses- in the courts
of this state, including the federal.
and in the federal courts outside of
the state. in efforts to break through
and destroy the states prohibitory
laws.
The effort of the liquor people to
break down the prohibitory laws OF
West Virginia has two-fold purpose.
First, to regain the lost business in
West Virginia; second, any failure in
West Virginia to be used in efforts to
prevent other states from becoming
dry. The liquor people realize that
success in West Virginia means fail
ure for the liquor people in contests
in wet states that are striving to be.
come dry. Failure in West Virginia
will assist the liquor people in the
efforts to keep wet states wet.
Let us take this occasion to say to
any man, or any association of men,
that when this state voted intoxicat-
ing liquors out of 1t, 1t voted them out
forever. The state will never again
permit the 1egalized sale of alcoholic
beverages, and the state will never
again enter into partnership with
be come people deluded with the idea
that this state will go back to the
liquor business for the purposes of
raising revenue. Shame, twice shame,
upon those who will permit them
selves to be led away by such delu-
sion! To seriously suggested 1t is i
reproach to the citizenship of the state,
and a sad reflection upon the intelli-
gence of those who suggest the idea.
The time Is here when the people OF
the state put men and morals above
the dollars.
Effects and Experience in West
Virginia.
Let US turn to some things and con-
ditions in West Virginia to illustrate
effects and experiences under prohibit
tory liquor laws. Some time ago l re-
ceived letter from one of the large
coal operators in the state. His plant
is located in a section where two or
three years ago we had internecine
war. He said: \
II never In my life saw such
great improvement, both in thee
way of behavior, and moral con-
duct an the passenger train of the
Cabin Creek branch of the G. C
o. railway since whiskey ceased
to be merchandising proposition
in our state. Further I notice
with great pleasure the large por-
ton OF our men who used to go
out to get whiskey are now spend
ing their time with their families
or at the Young Mems Christian
Association at Decota, and a por-
ally went for whiskey Is now 60
ing towards the entertainment OF
their families, which means un-
told pleasure for their children"
Benefits to Labor.
On the same day that the above let
ter was received. the president of one
of the labor unions. covering a large
district of the state, expressed to me
his pleasure because of the chanES
that had come to the thousands of
working men. members Of his organi-
zation. He stated that he found them
better contented and saving their
earnings; and that their wives and