The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-30
PROHIBITION IN THE WAR.

and there may still be found VINO
has heard it said that "prohibition
will not prohibit" and this man
and the other say he would be for
prohibition eff it would prohibit y
and some may still be found who
heard every two-by-four politician
In the state in nasal twangs inform
Us that "the dispensary is the best
solution of the whiskey question" >"
Of course none of the people who
thought or said these things are now
surviving, nor are there any living
who have stated that all prohibition
fsts were fools and fanatics.
However, in view of the ancient
traditions on the subject we sub
ioin a few remarks taken from The
Manufacturers Record, which will
be of interest to the congregation:
"For a long time Birmingham
has been puzzled to know what to
do with a great white building
erected a few years ago and intend
ed as a jail Unfortunately, as
viewed from the standpoint OF the
houor interests, prohibition brought
about such a decrease in the convict
business in Birmingham that that
city found itself with this big and
costly building without any occu-
pants.
The Age-Herald of Birmingham,
saws that the building CLOCKS more
like a handsome school building
than It does a city bastile."
As it is new and modern, with
attractive surroundings and without
occupants, because Birmingham
cannot find enough convicts to make
It necessary to use it, it has been
offered to the National Govern.
ment as a hospital, and is to be IN
vestigated for that purpose
The Age-Herald suggests that
1000 beds could be placed in the
building were it converted INTO
bospital. It now stands idle, mon
uraent to the power of prohibition
in lessening the number of con-
victs.'
While commenting on the TACT
that prohibition is thus offering a
Hospital to the government IN blr-
mingham, The Manufacturers Re-
cord calls attention to the fact that
the country is now in dire need OF
labor to raise food-stuffs for our
selves and our allies, labor to pro-
perly equip our shipyards, SO as to
settle the worlds destiny by pro-
viding necessary shipping, labor to-
man and operate munition factories
and iron and steel plants, labor to
supply lumber for ship-building' Ia
Dor to man and properly operate
the railroads and other necessary
industries, and suggests as a reme-
dy for these troubles that the en-
tire liouor industry be banished
from the country for the period OF
the war by closing saloons, brew
cries and vigorously enforcing the
Laws against the liquor traffic and
liquor drinking.
Saws the Record on the good re-
sults to follow this course:
"The nation would suddenly find
itself amazed at its efficiency and
startled at the vast increase IN lts
labor supply. Shipyards would
TEEN with work. Iron and steel ana
munition industries and coal mines
would vastly increase their output.
The production of food would a.
most instantaneously leap forward
and the natl n would suddenly hno
itself buoyantly optimistic and DOM
inant.
Against such a nation Germany
would struggle in vain. The end OF
the war would be fastened by many
months; perhaps by some years. Our
triumphant success would be made
certain. Hundreds of thousands OF
lives and billions of money would
be saved.
Is the nation ready to meet the
issue?
Every interest of the nation and
of the world demands the closing OF