The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-07-15
CASE AGAINST THE TRAFFIC
HAS BEEN MADE OUT
ALCOHOL POISON TO BODY
Witnesses Against Alcohol Science.
Experience and ReligiOn-Says
No False Testimony Has
Been Delivered.

Former Gov. Malcolm X. Patterson,
of Tennessee, who was one of the
speakers at todays session, urged
that national prohibition was the
proper way to deal with the liquor
question.
1.-THE case against the liquor traf-
fic has been made out he said. "The
witnesses who testify, conform to ev-
cry legal requirement of credibility;
they are intelligent have the means
of information and are willing to
speak the truth. They are Science,
Experience and Religion.
Science. without bias, cold, accu-
rate. calculating, testifies that alco-
hol is a poison to the body.
Experience comes and sets before
our view an inept, sullen, moaning,
struggling, unhappy procession of
victims; SO long that it would al
most reach across the continent; SO
sad that it would hove stone to
pity. She shows the dry husks of
hope, insanity and sudden death, dis
ease, want, waste and bloody crime.
Religion comes and delivers her
testimony. She relates how hearts
have been hardened to her eternal
truths she exhibits rents in the gar
ments of justice and bloody smears,
mercy fleeing before hate, passion in
flame, and love with broken wing.
There has been no false testimony
delivered; there has been no exag-
geration. no contradiction among
these witnesses"
Mr.. Patterson discussed state
rights. The duty of government, he
, said, was to surround the citizen
with good environment, to dig no pitt
falls in his path; to make it easy as
possible for the citizen to do right,
) as hard as possible to do wrong.
"This is the highest attribute of
Y sovereignty. The efforts of our gov
: ernment to suppress the, lottery; to
: stamp out polygamy; to destroy hui
Y man slavery; to prevent the use of
S narcotics; to eradicate the diseases
e of cattle; to preserve the public
: health; to give the people pure food,
we're all in harmony with the pur-
n pose OF its creation, and to maintain
n the liquor traffic is a prostitution of
n it's power.
e ut is not surprising that the liquor
g traffic would seize upon states rights
for safety. In the past when town
e or county proposed to outlaw the
e saloon, this cunning malefactor
z Isought to stay the local sentiment by
+ telling the people that it would favor
state prohibition, when it knew that
/ state action was remote or impossi-
G BILE.
e when the sentiment for state pro-
t hibition grew until it threatened to
d overwhelm the traffic it then sought
S delay until the government should
d act-and now when thfe tide has
rushed on until it has reached the
IL walls of the capitol-the traffic would
n sweep it back with the broom OF
h states rights.
e Stripped of all technicality, the
i question is a broadly national one
o and the government alone can solve
It it. If lottery conducted in only
/: one state is a proper subject for ma
S. tional authority, and the sale of mar
D cotics which affect comparatiy ely
If small number of the people, who will
ic deny the same authority over the Ii
of quor traffic?
e. "The doctrine of states rights as
Of defense to human wrong and the vi
II olation of the conscience of civxili'
cation was buried forever under ths
le apple tree at Appomatox.