Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-02-08
MIR. WATKINS Is IN FAVOR OF
PROHIBITION.

To tho Editor OF tho Evening Sun:
ST. At this time a great deal 8
being said pro and con, in regard to
prob b ton. For ages men have been
deceived by the so-cailed coup tina
chccrs"--that makes men believe a
lio that tells them they are happy
and "having a GOOD time when It
10 but the laugh and illusion OF Il
thoughtlcsS momcnt-tho fal,acy OF
Il scnselcss hour.
am in favor of prob bition. Not
that it immed atcly solves the liquor
problem, hur because It s the public
condemnation OF n monstrous evil. Ii
may be hardly pract cll, hut 1t Is
declarat on OF the + ght OF commun
ity to be dcccn" 1t dcnounces John
Barleycorn for what ho is-Nn impos
ter. l believe in prob h'tion because
It is based OH human love. 1t g good
Will and human Kindness. IL is an
effort OF the strong to bear the infirm
tiles Of he weak" 1t is an attempt to
t>ke away the worst poison from the
biggest babes" 1t Is an effort to
keep the most destructible fire out
1t seeks to keep pure the unsciled
b.tion because It knocks the profit out
OF the basest business on earth. be-
love in prohibition because 1t gives
the drink slave 1he chance he deserves
the chance to live sober. Prohibition
Is the prayers and tears Of broken
hated wives. mothers and fathers en
treating that something DO done to
save their loved ones from the curse
OF alcohol. I believe in prohibition be
cause 1t IS an attempt 10 do INT some
thing" to dry the tears OF these sad
ones and to lessen tho tasks Of the
prisCns and asylums-an effort 20 pre-
vent the recurrence Of tho drink trnge
dies OF tho past.
Doubtless it will BIO many years be-
foro officers OF the law will fully en-
foce prohibition. For many years
there will be "moonshiners." "blind
pigs" "speakeasies" devoted to the
same old pernic sous business OF poison
ing human beings. For long time
there VIII be the demand that will
maintain this deplorablo condition.
But, through difficulties there will be
such long intervals "between drinks"
that men. when they do obtain the
stun, will find Their thirsts failing
them with regard to the alcohol they
once craved. Officers OF the law will
gradually grow up to their duty. One
by ono the secret dealers in tbs nc
farious contraband Of prob 'bition's
war will be caught, prosecuted and
impr' soned until, some dny. they are
going to close out business" with
the mcntll no @: TOO risky for health
and capital"
Free will? The will that is under
the spell of alcohol Is not free. Some
wills are cnslaycd from childhood and
have no chance to choose for them-
selves. There are mothers who spend
their families bread money for booze
who give their CHI ldren rum when they
should have milk and beer when they
want bread.
Alcohol crazcs and kills. Yes. there
arc other evils besides the misuse
alcohol: oyercat ng. gambling and drug
habits-to mention a few. But. per
haps, when we, as a nation. sober
up" and learn the virtue tf pure water
we shall not want to indulge in these
other evils as we have in the past.
Free viii? When a man makes an
unsuccessful attempt to commit sui
eide and it is known, he is liable to
be prosecuted by his Government. No
man lives to himself alone. Our lives
ere not our own. Each is part Of
the great plan--a string that enters
into the harmony Of the mighty whole;
when one does n yfEg true 1t mars
the music OF tho universe.
LUCIAN b. WATKINS.
Baltimore. January %.