The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-01-11
THE sTATES-CRAPHIC
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
ARE THESE AMENDMENTS
PRUSSIANISMf

two-thirds Of the senate and two
thirds of the house noted to submit
the amendment, and it must be rati-
fled by a vote of the legislatures Of
three-fourths Of the states.
The World, also, like other reac-
tionary newspapers, thinks it unpat-
riotic to discuss the question while the
war is on. The World threatens the
south, and, in effect, waves the bloody
shirt. This is thinly yelled insinua-
ton that southern representation will
be reduced.
That talk has been heard before.
The supreme court of the United States
has stood between the south and re-
constructionists, whose views are
as vindictive as those of Thaddeus
Stevens.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal, a
representative southern newspaper, is
for the amendment and tells the World
to turn its batteries on the west, where
prohibition is as strong as in the south
There are very few southern news
papers which are opposed to the pro-
hibition amendment. Occasionally we
read one, however, which tears its
hair, metaphorically speaking, over
the disloyalty involved even in con-
sidering great issue like prohibition
during wartime,
Look into the record of an editor OF
that ilk and in all probability you
will discover that he always leaned
against whiskey barrel. In nine
cases out of ten he fought for the sa-
loon until his state would abide his
foul breath no longer. He was willing
that the rotten saloon, and afterwards
the bootlegger, should ply their nefa-
rious traffic, and pull down our boys,
and fill the warehouses; and jails, and
take bread from the mouths Of women
and children. He waxed fat on whis-
key and beer advertising, and, even
after the laws were passed, he contin-
ued to encourage lawlessness. Scoun-
drelly officials who refused to enforce
the law were under his protection. But
the people would not abide booze ans
longer. They have wiped it out Of
the south, even if it took a bone-dry
law to do it. Now they propose that
the nation shall have similar bless
ing.
There is no better time to do this
than wartime. There is nothing more
in the interest of the strength Of these
United States that saloonless United
States. The lack of patriotism is
shown by those who would lengthen
the life of John Barleycorn so he can
follow his nefarious business at the
expense of the future soldiers of the
country.
Congress already has put its seal
of condemnation on alcohol. 1t never
more effectively did so than when 1t
said it was crime for anyone to give
or sell any soldier or sailor of the
United States drop of the fluid. If it
is a crime for anyone to give or sell
to a soldier, it is just as much a crime
to give or sell to citizen, for every
citizen, before this war is over, may
have to take his place on the firing line
or in the work back of it.
This is the time of all times to dis
cuss the issue and all questions affili-
ated with it. The average liquor or
gan is disturbed about woman suffrage
too, because it knows that when the
women vote no specious and sophisti-
cal defense of booze will go for min
ute.
It is not patriotic now, according to
such as these, to make the United
States the most complete democracy
in the world. What they really think
is that it isn't patriotic to endanger
the breweries and distilleries in the
states where they have run to cover.
Great Britain hasn't yet to its sor-
row, legislated against saloons, but in
the midst of war it is enfranchising