The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1944-03-09
Let's Keep The Question Stroisht

Those well-meaning and sincere citizens VINO non
estly think they will be helping to get rid OF an evll IN Vol
ing out legal beer do not realize they are voting ngnt WIN
and aiding the ~bootlegger and his crowd. s#
It is to the bootlegser's interest that legal beer be
voted out Of Holmes county. Then he can handle the stuff
and charge any price he likes. As matters now stand with
beer legal II he handles it at all he has to keep a decent
Mace or the brewers association will cause his license 10 De
revoked. For three years this brewers association has pol
iced the beer industry and invited public criticism OF places
handling beer. Complaints of citizens regarding such places
were investigated and some places closed. They should De
given credit for making an effort to control the industry.
Seven places in Holmes county have had their licenses
revoked that we know of. There may be others. The MAJOR
ity Of these places that had their beer licenses revoked are
now closed. Those that are still open are seiiing wnishey'
Few booleggers fool with beer.
If we could pass a law and cause the people OF the
world to lose their a~ppetites for anything alconohc we
would do just that. But we know that as long as our peope
want alcohol in any form they are gong 10 get IL !" ~
way or another. Take beer away from them ana tney s'ai'
drinking whiskey. AS long as they want anything acono"e
there is going to be some one to sell it to them. mat Is
human nature.
BECAUSE of these conditions it has been virtually i'm
possible for law enforcement authorities IN homes county
to enforce the prohibition laws. They can RAID and raio'
fine and fine. take the cases to the court. But they can
get few convictions because OF public sentiment or apa'hy'
BECAUSE we cannot legislate human nature, because
we cannot remake the human form, the only thing we can
do is i teach and preach. We can teach our children IN the
homes and schools of the effects OF alcohol excess. II u
pulpits are used to preach christianity and brotherly love
and lead orr people in the way they should go they will
have greater influence.
But we cannot force people to do what we want them
to. whether it be drinking, gambling or anytning eise'
Tell a child he cannot have anything and ne Will de1y you
Grown people aren't any better. But teach and snow tnem
the right way and lead them in a sincere spirit OF love ana
prayer and you can work wonders.
So let's keep the question straight.
Reer is not giving any trouble in Holmes county.
Whiskey is the offender in the few spots that offend. Inc
majority of LIQUOR dealers now do not sell beer.
We say this because we believe that II ieeahzed Deer
ia voted out Of Holmes county not only will the same
amount of drinking be done but conditions Will be mace
worse. The person who wants beer will go to the bootlegger
to get it or whiskey in an atmosphere not only OF drink
ing but gambling and other evils.
If those persons leading the move to put legal beer
out in HOLMES county really sincerely want to accomplish
some good they can get behind our law enforcement officers
and cooperate with them in enforcing the laws we have.
Making beer lawless by voting it out only makes con-
ditions worse,