The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-16
FREQ 0, BLUE
URGES MORE
DRASTIC LAW
Tells Baptists that Much
Good Has Been
Done.


LOGAN, Oct. 16.-The enactment
Of amendments to the Yost Prohibit.
ton law which would make 1t unlaw.
full for intoxicating liquors even to be
transported from one point to another
within the state Of West Virginia ..-I
make 1t the duty Of municipal officers
to enforce the state law whether the
municipality has an ordinance on the
subject or not, were advocating by
Fred o. Blue, state prohibition COM
missioner In his report on Temper
ance submitted tonight to the Baptist
General Association OF West Virginia
now In session here. The report In
part follows:
First: The benefits OF statewide
prohibition have manifested them
selves In many ways since the state
became dry, viz, the first day Of July,
1914. Savings accounts have largely
increased and the deposits In state and
National banks show an increase OF
more than $6,000,000 as compared
with amounts on deposit on the thir.
tieth day OF June, 1914. $4,000 thous-
and more men are employed In indus
tries Of the state today than were EN-
ployed therein on June ~, 1914. The
number OF arrests for drunkenness. as
shown by the records of the police
counts, has decreased at least 80 per
cent since July !, 1914. Upon the au-
thority Of DR.. l.. V. Guthrie, superin-
tendent Of the Huntington State Hos
pital, there has been decrease of as
per cent In the cases OF alcoholic in.
sanity coming under his observation.
"On Aug. /, 1914, there were 1.620
prisoners In the state penitentiary Of
Aoundsville. On Sept. 20. the number
Of prisoners In that institution was
ZOOS, q decrease of 252. Warden
White Of that institution has made the
statement that he will not be surprised
IL the number of prisoners In the state
penitentiary do not exceed 800 by Jan.
i 1917.
"Secoud: When the prohibition law
Of 1913 was enacted, such law was re.
garded as the most advanced Of any
prohibition legislation at that time.
Indeed 1t was pronounced by many as
too drastic. Much Of the opposition
to the drastic provisions Of that law
has passed away, and today there is
strong demand throughout the state
for the law to be amended so as to
make 1t more drastic.
Third: Just as long as the PEG.
pie Of dry state take an interest
IN the prohibition laws OF tho dry
state. the law will be enforced. Many
good and many well.meaning y
may be under the impression that
when a state votes dry, the fight is
over. The fact is the fight has then
begun. 1t is the work of the church
to carry forward the work Of educa-
tion and Of agitation SO that the inter.
est Of the people in proI.vl.Ion laws
may not lag and thai those who de-
mand that the right shall De left to
them to receive intoxicating liquors
without restraint may appreciate their
duty and their obligation 10 society as
well as to thr 10 Is not strong
enough himself to resist his habit nor
to rests the disposition to be a law
breaker.
Therefors. be st resolved:
!. That the denomination pledges it.
self to aid and assist in the work OF
law enforcement.
Q. That It pledges itself to aid and
assist In the great work Of education
and maintaining public sentiment for
the perfecting of legislation, the en-.
forcement Of law and the making of
the state model dry state.
That the denomination favors and
demands the following amendments to
the present law:
(a) An amendment making It unlaw
full for person to carry into the state
or from one place within the state to
another place within the state, any In.
toxicating liquors In such quantities
that the same can be used for bever.
age or commercial purposes. In other
words, creating 1t a substantive OF.
tense to carry into the state or from
one place to another within the state,
such quantities as can be used for
Continued On naHa 81