The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-12
Protect All Dry ,erritory And Every
Home Against Mail Liquor Solicitation


South Dakota, Virginia and Missis-
s.ppi. Unfortunately it offers no
protection TO the eleven remaining
prohibition States, none to the vast
expanse of territory dry by LEGAL OPP
ton, none to the millions of homes
in wet territory where liquor circu-
lars directed to the housewife and
her little ones are bitterly resented.
Leave prohibition out of the dis
cussion for a moment. Where the
liquor traffic exists, should it or
should 1t not be conducted throu2h
licensed, regulated and controlled
retail channels? That is the ques-
ton.
Throughout the United States,
where the liquor traffic has not been
prohibited, it has been placed under
stringent regulation. Its hours of
sale, furniture, lunch, amusements
and every other feature are con-
trolled. 1t may not sell to minors
or inebriates; may net allow women
on the premises.
Now the liquor traffic finds not
only prohibition but regulation un-
bcarable. So ii forsakes the saloon
and adopts the mails as a channel Of
solicitation and the express as
channel of distribution. Through
this new agency, it solicits and sup
plies women. children, drunkards.
feble-minded. sick, criminals. any
body, everybody. 1t acts when,
where and how ii pleases. 1t makes
use OF false advertising. false claims,
vicious appeals, seductive pictures.
!: seatters matter unspeakably OBJ
scene and yet Sc carefully protected
by double meaning that its cbscenity
would be proved with great diff
Guilty.
In prohibition States and territory
dry by local action. the United States
steps in to taHc the flace of the sa-
Icon. Where regulation gals the
trade, the United States steps in to
take the place Of the saloon, freeing
the traffic from oversight and con-
troll. The condition is not local to
any State. 1t is n national evil,
existing because of the misuse Cf a
federal agency over which the con-
trcl of the federal government is abb
sciute and for which the RESPONSE
lility of the federal government is
undisputed. The law passed should
protect not alcng elecen States but
every prohibition State, every inch
Of prohibition territory, every inch
oil territory where the saloon is re-
strcted by local regulation and ev-
cry hcme under the American flag,
The bill favorably reported to the
House Of Representatives makes
such protection possible and the SEN
ate bill can be easily changed to af-
ford imilar relief There are only
about two hundred thousand holders
Of liquor tax receipts in the United
States. They are persons OF record.
Any postofiice can. with the very
minimum of effort, secure a list of
such persons in any community and
the list would not be long. A law
more easy Of administration could
not be devised.
II the liquor trade is wise, 1t will
itself demand such a law. Indeed,
the Wholesalers and Retailers Re-
view has declared that advertise
ments should be directed only to the
retail liquor merchant, as general
advertising and solicitation is irri-
tating to the public.
This is certain: the Sixty-fourth
Congress will either pass law re-
stricting mail solicitation to the Ii
censed trade or the Sixty-fifth Con-
gress will BAR THE TRAFFIC
FROM THE MAILS WITH NO EX-
CEPTION WHATEVER. A majority
of Congress, backed by the united
churches OF the country. can furnish
a diagram ri.ht now, showing in de-
ford similar relief. There are only