Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-24
a5e OSeeSd&
.eMSBOa$H

New Orleans water and Omaba's.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 1s.--To the Edi-
tor OF The Bee: You should send your
old friend and playmate, Howell. down
here TO learn something about water.
Here It is clear as spring water and alb
solutely tasteless. No alum, no chloride
OF lime, no aqua FORTS. such as you have.
Also. send along your chief Of police. to
learn how to handle 1000 maskers so that
women and children are safe from insult,
even when without a protector. No. con-
fetti, no rowdyism. But. maybe you have
seen II yourself. OBSERVER
nn this connection It might he stated
that in New Orleans water is sold by the
city to consumers at fiat rate per {. 900
gallons. and at figure much lower than
Omaha consumers pay, The only differ
entail then is the charge for meter
service, which is graduated according to
the size OF the meter, the bigger paying
more than the little Here the plan is
reversed the small consumer paying the
higher price)
Prohibition or seIf-Restraint.
OMAHA. Feb. 22.-Tc the Editor of The
Bee: Your Dorsey and Plattsmouth
(Neb) contributors on the subjects OF
''The Liquor Traffic and 1.-THE Demon
Rum" have evidently imbibed Of late
lot OF the prohibition doctrine which is
so diligently distributed through the Of
fetal Anti-Saloon league press bureau,
an organization Of wide extent and SPLEEN
did system, with thousands of corre-
spondents and obedient servants.
One 90 them would like to be told how
the liquor traffic. which he calls "the
most damnable and abominable curse
that ever crept out OF hell" can be
regulated. The answer depends much
upon where the regulation is to take
place. IL in Russia, with people OF the
lowest possible state of intelligence, PEG
pie who but few years ago were op-
pressed serfs. / would say prohibition is
the only hope until the intelligence of
these people can be advanced.
The 2O00o0OOo people IN Germany.
France. Belgium. Italy. etc. With their
higher state of intelligence. get along
very well with minimum of regulation.
Beer or wine is part of their daily bin
of fare. yet there lis practically no
drunkenness. and people live longer there
1855 w wv ~ ~ NtIt lTuC llAI even
the moderate use OF such stimulants
made degenerates. or that II led to the
excessive use, these people would all be
degenerates now. Recent events tell us
that this Is not the case. Solution of the
problem in this country has been a diff
ficult one by the irrational attempts at
prohibition. Approaching the subject
from the standpoint OF the professional
prohibitionist, the self-appointed re-
CORNER OF the fanatical preacher. GER
tainly will not solve the problem. The
experience in all prohibition states has
spelled absolute failure.
1t Is. Of course, not at all impossible
that the wave. propelled by fanaticism
and misrepresentation, could create n
tide which would throw many communI-
ties or states off their feet But IL SO. Il
Is merely because people are more in
clined to believe a Misrepresentation
when presented under the guise OF moral
ity ana religion, than accept the truth
travelling In the plain garb OF reason.
The prohibitionists have a wonderful
organization and able leaders, who pro-
coed ON the doctrine Of Barnum and the
belief that few people really think They
know that II people are told often enough
that black is white. great many will
believe 1t. II man is told often enough
that liquors, even moderately used act
as poison or will lead TO the intern
perate use, II will so work on his
imagination that the effects will be as
predicted. One contributor says that the
government has for a few years pro-
hibited the traffic In liquor on Indian
reservations and at military posts. Does
he mean 10 insinuate that an intelligent
white man cannot control his appetite
and must wear. like the Indian. the
straight Jacket prohibition to keep him
from the excessive use2 And as to
military posts, officers who know best
condemn the abolition OF the canteen. II
is only recently that Colonel Goethels
has recommended its re-establishment.
Emperor William spoke only against
excessive drinking and recommended self
discipline. which Is positively the only
solution Your Plattsmouth correspond
ent Is mistaken about proposed COM
promises or band wagons. The issue is
not between the liquor interests and the
the issue is entirely be-
tween the people who demand the right
TO purchase, and who are able TO, and
do control their appetites, and those who
would deny them such right and per-
sonal liberty on the pretext that men are
too weak. and that all temptation must
be removed from them. They do not
realize that the temptation to drink beer
or wine TO excess involves but the small
est fraction OF the evils and vices to
which humanity Is heir.
l., MEVER