The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-08-31
NATION Wide PROHIBITION
PART OF SENATOR eEckHAM's
SPEECH IN THE. SENATE
AUGUST FIRST.

1
The rapid and widespread growth ii
sentiment favorable to prohibition
among the people OF this county in re
cent years is one OF the most interest
.ng and remarkable experiences in on
history. II has grown in strength no
only ia our country but throughout TIL
civilized world II has not been SO man!
years since that for a man TO be Gale,
a prohibitionist was an offensiv.
epithet, ard meant in many instance.
at least political ostracism. To-day n,
man needs to defend himself from sucl
a designation. The opponents Of pro
hibition are on the defensive, and arr
without argument to uphold thei
cause
We see in both Houses of Congress.
substantial! ma jorities in favor of ma,
ton wide prohibitions; we see at leas
enc half of the STATES now under pro
bibiiion laws, and we have reason e
believe that the people in many of tn,
other States Will adopt it when the op
portunity is offered them. Every argu
ment advanced by those opposed to tn,
movement has been met ard answered
and the liquor interests of the country
to-day stand without friend that car
present a single valid reason to justify
their continued existence.
Alcohol used as q beverage has been
Enthusiastically and unanswerably stamp
ed by the medical profession, by other
scientists, by the best thought of the
age. as a poison. II has been shown
by overwhelming evidence that when
so used even In moderate quantities il
is positive injury to the human sys-
tenn. 1t weakens the body. it blurs the
mind il invites disease, and it destroys
the soul of man. 1t produces more
pauperism, mere crime. more sorrow
than all other causes combined. 1t e
the prolific mother of prisons, jails, in
sane asylums, and almshouses II has
no friends left except those who manu-
facture and sell It and make q profit
out Of the business 1t is a curse
against which willows and orphans and
sorrow stricken people in every COM
in our land have lifted up their
prayers and have petitloned their Gov
to abolish.
No one can nov stand before an in !.
telhgent audience and defend this e1is
tence Of the saloon. That evil institu-
ton ia now recognized as one without
a saving grace, ard as the chief breed
ing place of human misfortunes and
That the saloon is doomed
is fact now generally admitted, and
another generation will marvel at the
patience and forbearance of this gem
Grafton in tolerating il so iong.N No State
nor city nor community has abolished
the saloons that has not been great.
" benefited in every way by doing so.
is not only a moral but al
so an economic blessing 70 any State
hat adopts it AS a revenue producer
he liQpor business is worse than :.
allure. It gives only small per cent
If the large sums it takes from the
consumers to the support OF Govern
nent and 1t weakeps the taXpaying
powers Of the people among whom IT
S tolerated.
Don is bad. what good can there be in
he distillery or the brewery whose bus
ness it is to manufacture supplies for
he saloon If the one is abolished,
Why should the other remain 1t has
'een estimated that the amount wasted
n this country each year fer alcoholic
Kinks amounts to nearly two ard one
alf billions OF dollars. Think OF what
n enormous and inexcusable waste OF
UT national Wealth, to say nothing OF
he infinite harm that its use inflicts |
pom the people. No good whatever
ONES from that staggering exprndi- |
Dre and j. is all absolute waste. What |
tremendous saving of our national |
'ealth can be accomplished by stop
ing it altogether. Let the people OF |
his country have the opportunity in
lie constitutional way to express their
fishes in regard to 1t. Let this Con-
ress ct least respond to this ynrnis
nanee through their States to ratify /
lis amendment.
This is not simply q wartime move
ent. The arguments In favoR of pro-
Ibition have been acceEtuated, no.
'eated, BIZ the existence of the pres
1t world wide war. 1t is bad policy
waste wealth In time of peace: 1t Is
worse policy. and may be fatal pol
y, to waste 1t in time of war
lould, Mr.. President support this con-
itutional amendment in time of peace.
can do so with even greater earnest
sss at this time when we are engaged
a titanic war and when all OF the
Iergies and resources of the Nation
Id the strength of the people should
conserved. hope to see this amend
ent receive the requisite number OF
ties. both in the Senate and in the
ouse, and that this session OF Con-
ess will before its adjournment give
the people the opportunity to settle
Is question according to their wish.