Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-08-16
Another Dry Senator.

Another Dry Senator.
That was fierce and blazing denun-
ciatiou OF the saloon business Senator
Sherman. OF Illinois, made recently in the
Senate. II thrilled the country with its
moral indignation. His personal courage
startled those who knew him and was
demonstration OF the fact that the old
Sherman fire had not died out OF his
heart. His spint burned with indigna-
ton when he said: 81 wish TO say. Mi.
President. thlt the principal source OF
the vile, the feiid, the corrosive element
that blazed the way TO disorder and wrote
the story OF blood across the sky over
East ST. Louis, is the internal, lawless,
damnable saloons that have infested that
town and blighled the community 10
years."
These words went like flash OF light
ming through the Senate chamber. The
debate was hot and rancid over the pro-
hibition rider on the Food Conservation
Bill. Something was wrong. Senators
were lodging and parleyirg, The East
ST. Louis mob violence was ventilated
and the explosion came, like the torpedo
ing OF a staggering ship by merciless
submarine. A city in Senator Sherman's
Stale had been attacked. He sought the
floor ostentibly TO defend municipality
he represented. Mob violence had con-
trolled that city; incendiarism had de-
stroYed thousands Of dollars OF property (;
American citizens had been murdered in
The streets, and The police had been help
less TO stay the tide OF violence. The
outrage was shame and disgrace upon
the city under which The Negro popula-
tion had suffered illimilable terrorism,
and The banners OF proud democracy had
been trampled in the dust.
AS man OF force, with legal mind
and gerius for debate, Senator Sherman
had held in the past anti-prohioition
ground and men feared his attacks. Now
he arose with his face tightened and the
lines drawn. Something was 10 pay, and
the fearful sought cover. "Mr. Presi-
dent" he said, with an effort at SELL
control, 81 wish 10 say that the principal
source OF the vile, the fetid, the corrosive
element that blazed the way in disorder
and wrote the story OF blood across The
sky OF East ST. Louis is the internal, law
less, damnabe saloons that have infested
that town and bIighted the community
Tor years, and ! want 10 know whether
the Senator will be party 10 the con-
tiuuance OF those lawless conditions and
more lawless men That IS The inter
rogatoy rose 10 PROFOUND while The
Senator was dealing with the question. ]
will give The story as understand il on
some future occasion when trespass on
no Senator's time.
81 have no words OF apology for the
slaughter that has happened there OF
American citiZens who, under The full
panoply OF The laws OF their country, have
been brutally outraged, taken into alleys.
shot by reyolvers, beaten 10 death by
bludgeons, burned in their own homes,
and, fleeing 10 an opera house Tor safety,
have had II burned and wrecked over
their heads, with the result that thirty
four chared corpses have been taken
from the ruins have no apology for
that for my own State or Tor any other
State. II is something that ought never
TO happen, and would never happen
except for The Inherent defect that is
lurking in our system, mentioned by the
Senator from Colorado-the increasing
contempt for law and order that is spring
ing up all over this country and resulting
in grand procession OF criminals. II is
The saloonkeepers OF East ST. Louis and
their kind who lead the van OF every
ayless movement, and breed and spew
heir infamous vermln upon every COM
munity where they are suffered TO exist.
am 'bone-dry' Senator from now on.
81 am bone-dy Senator There are
more dIstiIIers in my State than IN any
other country in the world Just across
the river is the largest brewery in the
world There is no place in my State
where the Anheuser- Busch Company
does not have an agent. But these are
part Of the underlying economic condi-
tions, based upon greed and human sppe-
tite, that lead TO such outfages as were
referred 10 by The Senator"
Thank God for another bone-dY Sen
ator. In these days many OF them are
getting their eyes open. Some see men
as trees walking and bIunder on into The
beer vats OF the brewers. For man TO
openly take the stand OF Senator Sher-
man when the largest "beer lobby" is
now working in Washington that has
ever disgraced our capital, is display Of
moral courage worthy the emulation oi
other Senators we know who have been
slinkers and slackers when their con-
stituency has been ashamed OF their acts
and forced to apologize for them in bitter
humility Western Christian Advocate.
The Cost OF The Dog.