Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-11-09
THE TRUE BASIS
OF Civil Law Justifes the
Elimination Of the
Liquor Traffic

Liquor franc
To the Editor:
Many good paop'c not among
this intempeFat, c ass look With
diSfavor on every effort legally 10
suppress the liquor traffic, be
lievfns that such II measure
would interfere with personal
rights. Let me recommend the
following thoughts to the careful
attention Of all such, feeling sure
none will fail to see in the true
basis OF civil law the real founda
ton IF the right of prohibition.
The sale of dangerous toys
and weapons and poisnns is pro
hibited or restricted because
they are a menace to life and
property. How abuut'the sale of
Intoxicating drinks? Do they
endanger the life and comfort
and happiness of the people in
the community where they are
sold and used? BE fair with
Yourself in answering this qu"s
tion, for this is not II mere AGA,
fdemic question. Has that won
an down there in the huvel, with
her helpless babes. any right to
the necessities of life which the
money her drunken husband
squanders on liquor would pur
tchas:? Where is her defense
when her husband loses control
of himself because the drink is
constantly within his reach:
Must | as an individual be made
responsible to use my time and
m'ans to supply the starving,
chilled, wretched ones made so
through failure to keep the bot
tie ont of the reach of the poor
weak husbands and fathers who
are permitted to drink or letft
alone as they please?
Does the drink in any way en-
danger the lives of tic %unfortun
ates who never know wien to let
it alone, or can not do so If they
do know? Does it make them
dangerous to their families and
to the community? How many
murders have been committed
by men ierved to their bloody
deeds by imtoxicants.
Are the sale and use of intoxi
cants dangerous to life and prop
erty? Are drunken men fit to
run railroad trains and automo,
biles and to drive horses? Are
they tit to act as night watch
man? Are they fit to act as pol,
icemen to guard the lives and
prepertN of waking Or sleeping
citizens?
TT you can answer these qucs
ti0ns alflrmativ'ly, then let the
liquor flow. and you employ the
drunken night Waterman for
your property, or a drunken
chauffeur for your automobile, or
employ a drunken doctor. when
you are sick; but the writer
would prefer to take n leave of
absence from the vicinity of such
surroundings.
Are the sale and use of intoxi
cants dangerous To life and prop
erty and chastity? Would you
send your family to a resort
where half the guests are drunk
all the time? Would you consid.
er your sister IN your daughter
safe in the company of a man
who would lead her to places
where drink is sold, and then
drink himself, and coax her to
drink? Where does the down.
fall of m my q young woman, and
nan, too, begin? Is it not over
the wine cup or the beer boitles
Will you tell me truly, are the
sale and useOf liquors which will
make men and women drunk a
menace to chastity and VII tneS
And last, of all, what do you
think OF the reputation and char
acler Of a town whore nine tenths|
of the people drink strong liq.l
uors, and where half of tnem get
drunk: Compare this town for
just a minute with one where not
one in ten touches drink, Nnd
where n drunken man is'seen in
town only when he and his
cbums come over from Freeville
to do n little advertising to show