Pocahontas star herald., 1923-06-29
Little Rock letter

Little Rock, June 25-The follow
ers of al Smith who have apparent
ly entered upon a campaign to make
America wet viii meet with very lit
lie response in Arkansas 1t is safe
to predict that any effort which may
be made to turn legislation toward
the We.s will he promptly squelched.
Arkansas was among the leaders of
the states in ratifying the 18th Amend
mcnt. All agencies and organiza-
tions of patriotic or progressive ,
law-abiding nature are thoroughly
committed to the enforcement of the
most rigid prohibition. The only ex-
ception is the bootleggers and the
moonshiners union, which unfortu-
nately has a large and active member
ship.
Arkansas was among the first to
adopt bone-dry enforcement statutes
and stands solidly behind the govern
ment in the enforcement of the 18th
Amendment, the Volstead Act and any
other statutes that win insure strict
adherence to the prohibitory doctrine.
Arkansas feels just pride in its
record in this respect and any law
maker who should in a moment of mis-
taken advocacy of Liberalism under
take to put over an anti-prohibition
law or in any manner weaken the gov
ernment's enforcement statutes would
find himself most woefully unpopular.
re be sure there are still few old
timers who have not been converted
to the theory of strict prohibition and
who believe their personal rights have
been abridged, but they are in the mi
nOrity. The business men of Little
Rock and other cities in the state,
even those who formerly imbibed, are
thoroughly convinced that prohibition
is an economic asset to any commune
ty and they would be unwilling to re-
turn TO the old days of the open sa-
loon. A few years ago it was claimed
by these same Liberalists that If the
saloons were closed the buildings occu-
pied by them would become tenantless,
all business would suffer in conse-
quence and grass would grow in the
streets. The increased prosperity, the
absence of empty store buildings and
the reduction in crime have furnished
a striking answer TO these bibulous
prophets Of evil.
Arkansas is well content with its
prohibition laws. That is the majori-
ty Of the people, probably 80 per cent,
and it is Democratic principle that
the majority shall rule.
1t cannot be denied that moonshin-
ing and bootlegging are thriving in
dustries in many localities and it is
said that those who are inclined have
no difficulty in securing all the liquor
their money will buy. The market
price is said to be very high although
there has been a marked reduction in
recent months due to an increased pro-
duction. County, City and State off
cials are cooperating with the Federal
enforcement officers in the suppress
sion of Illicit manufacture and clan
destine sale of intoxicants..
Arkansas has been from its infancy
rock-ribbed and immoyable in its
Democracy, but it is freely predicted
that should the Democratic party so
far forget itself as to nominate Gov
ernor Al Smith Of New York for the
presidency, there would be another
alignment in this state. His nomina-
tion would undoubtedly split the Dem
ocratic party wide open in Arkan-
sas for the better element of our citi-
zenship would not support a man who
has deliberately approved an act for
the practical secession Of his state
and cut the levees that protected his
people from a food of alcoholic bev-
erages.
There are few men in the state oc-
cupying positions of leadership who
would have the temerity 20 suggest
1.-THE repeal of our enforcement statutes.
Even the beer and light wine contin-
gency would find themselves in a dis
tressing minority. Prohibition is an
established fact in Arkansas and no
longer a theory or a religious move
ment II has been proven econmi-
caily sound and the people viii not
listen to any change.
Twenty-Five years ago General Ste
phen d. Lee made an appeal to the
| Ta,t,st,olove ~ Artrauaae for an ammo.