Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-06-17
TEMPERANCE VS.. vOLSTEADISM
Continued from Page 4

Let us exmine this a little. | am
one of those who do not believe that
this law was ever rightly passed. 1t
will be conceded that this is a Democ-
racy, where majorities rule.-"Vox
Populi Vox Del" And the voice of
the people has not been heard on this
question. 1t is law of minority
and being so | believe every support
er of this law is guilty of treason to
the fundamental principles of our
Constitution.
The Prohibition Parry is Minority
Party and has no principle but to win
by fair means or FOUL. They are up
to all tricks of most corrupt Politics.
"For ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain the heather Chinese
have nothing on them" While their
minority party they hold a bal
ance of power and use this as club
to success regardless fother rights
and interest. This is reasonable.
If | buy poor mans vote | am pun
ishable, but this organization can en-
ter the halls Of Congress and say to
the highest representatives, elf you
do not pass this law, we will see that
GU do not come back here" This
was so patent that the VicePresident
said to a Senator, "That if it had
been secret ballot, you would have
oted differently" The same spirit of
Political fear caused its adoption by
some of the states. Oh! the pity of
it, that the highest representatives.
o. the people should through fear of
defeat at the poles, be so weak as to-
stife their honest convictions, and
yield to the threats of this minority
party, and thus force upon the Coun-
try this Infamous Law. | honor
representative Legg, though he is not
of my party, who stood up in the
Maryland Legislature, and said,
Though it means my Political
Death, that he would stand by his
convictions, and vote as an honest
man."
All things come to those who wait.
This country is not going to be ruled
byMinority. The freedom of the in
Gividual is guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition. What kind of freedom is this,
that prevents a man who has apples
or grapes firm omaking wine or cider
for his own use.
This Temperance Question is diff
fcult one. To protect the individual
and prevent its immoderate use is the
question. The laws heretofore in eX-
istence might be improved upon. We
are all against the saloon. The bar
room has gone to stay, and is not
coming back any more, but the indiv
idual has some rights, and, however,
physicians may divide on this ques-
ton, the popular sentiment is at one
on it's use as a medicine.
The Bible says, Thou Shalt Not |
Kill, Thou Shalt Not Steal, but the
whole tenor of it is against Intern
GRANGE, the use of wine is commend
cd and it nowhere says, Thou Shalt
Not Drink.
That this party does not trust the
people, but wishes to ride rough shod
over them which purpose is treason
able, is evidenced by their defeating
their own bill in the Legislature soon
er than let it pass with referendum
For myself, l cannot support this
party nor this law, which so inter-
feres with the rights of the people so
as to cause them everywhere to break
the so-caled law upon which they
have never passed. This is danger
Gus condition as in Republic like
ours respect for law Is fundamental,
Once we get the habit of law-break-
ing, as tbs Volstead Act surely does,
and do undermine this principle of
respect for law, which is vital and
which may end in chaos and anarchy.
1t is a failure in it's purpose and its
tendancy is only toward evil, conse-
quently it does not deserve support,
nor should it demand obedience.
G G OHM M. ID. |