The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1916-01-21
AS A "WET" CITIZEN OF
CLOVIS VIEWS PROHIBITION
The Following Communication received Sy the News
From Citizen who Discusses the Prohibition ques-
ton from the standpoint of the Anti Says will not
Prohibit Arguments Answered.

business without any violation OF the
law, and ii they had only one saloon
the results would be the same.
II should be remembered that where
people market their products they do
their trading and keep their bank de-
posits. We take no chance il we vote
against prohibition on the 31st.
The question OF taxes and the
source from which the amount is to
be derived has been exploited by the
prohibitionists. We are free to ad-
nit that all taxes are paid by the
producers OF wealth regardless OF who
tenders the money to the collector.
That the best method OF raising taxes
is to do SO indirectly, is a well estab
lished principle in political economy.
Oklahoma is today groaning under
the heaviest tax rate OF any state in
The union, and each year the prohi-
hitionists inform the toilers who foot
the deficit that taxes will be lower.
Kansas is close second as an ex-
orbitant tax gatherer--she is in the
prohibition column. The tip from
the Journal to follow Oklahoma and
Kansas to the top should be con
strued as knock to the bottom.
, Oklahoma is positively in state of
bankruptcy.
Under glowing headlines we were
Uniformed last week that killing in
Muskogec, Oklahoma, was caused by
whiskey The pro who garnered that
article from the Muskogee Times
should have had the fairness to have
informed his readers that Muskogee
is in that part OF Oklahoma that once
formed part of the Indian Territory,
and has always been in The dry col
umn, which. by the way. proves that
prohibition will not prohibit, and is
not conclusive To- good morals.
In like manner the article clipped
from the Kansas City Star defeats the
cause that it is supposed to defend
The article states plainly that Collins
was killed over a woman, and that it
was the second killing over this same
Mrs. Murphy.
BY implication those who favor the
cause OF the ants have been accused
OF being the enemies OF the home, the
state and the church. Ii should be
well remembered that it is not the
function OF the state to legislate in
religious and moral matters. The
home is the foundation OF civilization,
and children who have been properly
trained therein, are in no danger OF
becoming drunkards under present
conditions Character is something
that must be built, and not legislated
into human beings. Ii the church fol-
lows the path blazed by the Man of
Galilee. II will obey the secular arm,
and viii not as a body seek to force
its IDEAS on the public by entering the
field OF political activity. Each mem
her Of the church has the right to ex-
press himself on all matters political,
but Nc representative OF that body
has the moral right to commit his con
to any cause political. Jesus
came both eating and drinking and
was called by the moralists of his day
a rlutton, and a wine bbbcr.
With singing words He called the
wuuld-bc moralists whited sepulchers.
With = lash OF words He drove the
money changers from the Temple,
and never called in the aid OF police
mans club to prevent their return. His
was = message to the human heart
Tie came to open the eyes of the soul.
10 unfold TO the race u higher vision
col lie. Hc struck blow at the piety
ui those who would rule in his day
His voice was not heard in the
street" To the preachers who would
rule the political affairs OF this day
and age We would suggest, GO and do
yc likcwi ise'
Il has been charged during this cam.
paign that children OF tender years
are drinking in the streets of Clovis.
We are inclined to believe the state
mcnt was drawn from the fertile
OF the one who signed
The article. 1t is the duty OF any citi.
zen ro not only call attention TO the
fact that such things happen, but il
they happen, 10 get the names of the
children and report the matter to their
7arcn,s and prosecute those who are
guilty p' violating the liquor laws
,ril such action is taken we will take
,rrn reports with q grain OF salt.
A CITIZEN.