El Paso Morning Times (El Paso, Tex.), Vol. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, July 21, 1911 Page: 2 of 12
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GREAT LEADERS OF NATION CONDEMN STATEWIDE PROHB
BISHOP KINSOLVING OF AUSTIN: "My first objection
to Htatc prohibition Is that it propose* to interfere unreason-
fpfr with the right* of the individual, Because by clamor and
m;bU< <xr*tement and appeal* to prejudice iuid passion a ma-
jority of the unthinking masses has been led to espouse a
cause that certain loaders approve of, it is proposed to make
a minority of very respectable proportions, not all nor even
mot t of them bfid cMscn*. to regulate their social and domes-
Me customs aC<ordtng to the dictation of this majority, which
may, indeed, be very small; but the iris* of It is indifferent; it
is the prliK iph of such Interference that Is objectionable. The
evils resulting from the coarse now being pursued to enlist the
churches, a# such, in the present crusade, in the near future,
may &< t like a boomerang, and in the end do untold injury to
the cause of Christianity. It is against the genius of Chris.
Vanity to legislate men into conformity with Its principles.
Almighty <iod Himself will put no other compulsion on men
loan that of moral suasion to induce them to obey Hi* laws.
*Come let us reason together,* is the invitation He extends to
all who would know and adopt His ways. He knows that an
obedience extorted by an outwardly applied and irresponsible
lores has no moral virtu* in it. on the contrary, it makes men
despise that power that enforces their unwilling obedience.
JEFFERSON DAVIS. PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDER-
ACY: " 'Be ye temperate in all tilings,’ wat* a wise injunction
HDii would until v to intolerance as well a* tef drunkenness*
ami would apply ... ...--------------- ,
That the intemperate use of intoxicating liquor* is an evil, few,
it snv would deny That It is the root of many social disor-
ders is conceded; but then, the question arises, what is the
appropriate remedy and what the present necessity. To de-
firoy individual Utterly and moral responsibility would be to
eradicate one evil b\ the substitution of another, which It is
submitted would be more fatal than that for which It was of-
fered as a remedy. The abus*, and not the uae of stimulants,
it must be / onfessed, 4s the evil to be remedied. Then It dear-
ie follow- that artion should <dearly l»e directed against the
abuse rather than the use If drunkenness he the cause of
disorder arid « rime, why not pronounce drunkenness itself to
be a crime and attach to it proper and adequate penalties, if
it 1*- objected that the. penally could not be enforced that is an
admission that popular opinion would be opposed to the law;
but if it tie true that Juries could not be empaneled who would
convict so degraded a criminal as a drunkard, it necessarily
follow* that n statutory prohibition against the salt: and us® of
intoxicants would be .1 dead letter "
SENATOR CHARLES A. CULBERSON: "After giving the
ti after my anxious thought, J find tiiat Statewide prohibition
present* me Mien* alteratives: We must either suffer the law
to be openly violated And defied in many counties, thus bring-
ing not only that Jaw but all others Into nubile contempt, or
else we must enforce a Statewide prohjhltloi
_______ don law by abolish-
ing that So* h! self-government in many counties. As a citizen
I tan not ac< ept the first Alterative, and an a democrat, I can
rot a* < opt the aecoiwJ. 1 therefore feel compelled to avoid both
by (acting m> vote to continue our present and excellent sys-
tem of !o- al option which lots already done so much and which
Is certain » • do still more in the years to come."
SENATOR JOSEPH W. BAILEY: "The adoption of con-
stitutional Htatewlde prohibition, in rnv judgment, would be
particular)y uriwise and unsafe. In view of the experience of
such Htates an Alabama. Maine and others, Mt&Mtwicta prohibi-
tion at beet would be an experiment. If constitutional prohi-
bition i* adopted in Texas and it Is shown not to be effective
or satisfactory to the people*, it will be difficult to repeal It.
This ran be done, it is true, by a majority of all the voters of
the State, yet before such a vote can be had two-thirds of
each branch of the I«>g(stature must submit an amendment to
the constitution for thut purpose, so liiAt h bAre excess of one-
third of the members of * it her branch of the legislature could,
if the proposed econstitutional amendment is adopted, tie the
hands of the tftate .”
GOVERNOR WOODROW WILSON: "1 am In favor of
local option I am « thorough believer In lo*al self-govern-
ment, and believe that every aH f-governing community which
constitutes a >•<<, ial unit should have the right to control the
matter of the regulation or of the withholding of licenses "
GOVERNOR WILLIAM SPRY OF UTAH: There Is no
question in rn> mind, or in the mind* of the people of Utah,
that temperatc c should be adopted. But I agree wdth the re-
marks of tin* senator when he says that it Is Tm possible to leg-
islate morality or soberness into any man. It must come, from
the heart out and not from the outside in. I have heard about
sacrificing the Ix»> on the altar of the saloon, Now, 1 do not
know where the other man’s boy is, but my boy is home with
),ta mother, where he should be. And so long as God gives us
wisdom to build around him the proper home Influence he will
remain there unless he has some legitimate reason for being
elsewhere."
PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT SAYS: "Nothing is
more foolish, nothing more utterly at variance with sound
policy than to enact a law which, by reason of the conditions
surrounding the communities, 1h incapable of enforcement-
Such instances are Hometjtnes presented by sumptuary law by
which the sale of intoxicating liquor In prohibited under pen-
... . ed if *
alty ir» localities where the public sentiment of the Immediate
community does not and will not sustain the enforcement of
AUe taw.”
THOMAS JEFFERSON SAYS: “Our legislator* are not
sufficiently apprised of the rightful limit of their power.
Thuf tlidr true office Is to declare and enforce, only our nat-
ural rights and duties and take none of them from us. No
man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal
rights of another, and this Is all from which the law ought to
retrain him. The idea ih quite unfounded that upon entering
society xve give up any natural right.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S WISDOM: “Prohibition will work
great Injun to the cuttse of temperance. It la a specie* of 1n.
temperance within its. if, for It goes beyond the* bounds of rea-
son In that it attempts to control u man's appetite by legisla-
tion and In making . times out of tilings that are not crimes.
A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles on
which our government was founded."—Krom a Hpeech In Illi-
nois Legislature.
Abraham Lincoln ran a tavern in Salem. Ill . where he sold
liquor While a member of the Illinois legislature he voted
again.** both local option and Statewide prohibition.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT SAYS: "The good citizen Will
demand liberty for Idtnuelf, and as a matter of pride he will
see to It that others will receive the liberty which he thus
claims as ids own. Probably the best test of true love of lib-
erty hi any country is the manner in which minorities are
treated in mat country. Not only should there be complete
liberty in matter <>f religion and opinion, but* complete liberty
, for each man to lead his life aa he desires, provided only that
in so doing he. does not wrong his neighbor .Wide difference
of opinion In matters of religious, political and social belief
must exist if conscience or Intellect alike are not to be stunt-
ed, if them is to be room for healthy growth. Ritter Interne-
cine lint reds, based on such differences, are signs not earnest-
ness of belief, but of that fanaticism which, whether religious
or anti-religious, democratic or anti-democratic, is itself but a
manifestation of the gloomy bigotry which has been the chief
fiutor in the downfall of so many nations."
RAMUEL GOMPERS, PRESIDENT AMERICAN FEDERA-
TION OF LABOR: ‘‘Experience has shown the folly of prohi-
bition wherever it has been tried, and tiiat saloons can he reg.
utated by laiv. There is not a city 1n Maine where a stranger
ear not go and buy all the beer or whisky he wants, There is
no attempt whatever to disguise the fact that these places are
operating in violation of the law “
FRANCIS MURPHY, INTERNATIONAL TEMPERANCE
'WORKER, ORGANIZED FIRST TEMPERANCE REFORM
CLUB OF MAINE: "We an- apt to become dictatorial when
we wive people. It is not rigid. It is well to be humble. I
know of nothing tiiat can save you but mercy. Just remember
that, and remember that l am not finding fault with any other
method of saving men, but officers can not reach men's appe-
tite. The legislature can not control a man's appetite. While
it is well to undertake to do certain things by act of legisla-
ture, there are things thut legislatures can not do, and it is no
use to try. Now. remember that Christ never went aftej^ a
man with the etty marshal, but with the grace of God. The
prohibition policy amounts to Caeaarlsm. They believe in go-
ing ahead, right or wrong In the Ktate where law* have been
passed prohibiting the sale of liquor the entire State early has
been legislated into crime, for if It is a crime to sell liquor it
U a crime to buy it, and the majority have done one or the
ether Ho unpopular have such laws become that the method
of enforcing them has become more Injurious than the original
evil, and the officers, whose business It is to enforce them,
have lost the sympathy of the common people."
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES: "Forget not, l pray you, the right of per-
sonal freedom- Self-government is the foundation of our poli-
te al and social institutions, and it is by self-government alone
that the law of temperance can be enforced.”
ROGER Q. MILLS. CONGRESSMAN AND AUTHOR MILLS
TARIFF BILL: “I oppose the adoption of prohibition because
It violates a fundamental principle of free government.”
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. NOTED AUTHOR AND
PHILOSOPHER: "While advocating temperance among our
people and all appropriate measure* 10 promote it, I believe
that, the adoption of the proponed amendment to the constitu-
tion prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors would not ac-
complish its intended purpose, but would lead to the aqrreptt-
tiou* use of inferior wines and liquors.”
UNITED STATES SENATOR VEST: “1 am opposed to
prohibition. ! am opposed to it on principle. I am opposed to
it notwithstanding the slurs that are made by its advocates-
that every man who dares oppose It favors Intemperance and
is working in the saloon interest, if von can not trust people,
their individual judgment and their conscience, and their con-
viction after discussion, as to their health and what they shall
dtink. in the name of common sense how can you trust them
at the ballot box with the destiny of the country?”
DR HOWARD CROSBY, NOTED CLERGYMAN: "Prohi-
bition throws wide open the floodgates of vice. An inopera-
tive law in no law at all. There is the unlicensed vice which
feeds It* temporary freedom and is prepared to make the most
of it. Is prohibition 1n Maine? There never was tn any Htate
that adopted it. The main effects of prohibition when tried
are poor liquor, large prices for it, an increase of inmates In
the lunatic asylums, poverty for the farmers and a system of
semi-thievery and deliberate falsehoods on the part of the in-
habitants arid transients which unfits them for prayer and
church going.”
REV. DR. RAINSFORD OF NEW YORK CITY: "To drink
is no sin. Jesus Christ drank. To keep a saloon is no sin. and
any policy which claims the name of Christ or does not claim
His name, that deal* with the well-nigh universal appetite of
‘ ion
men for alcohol on the basis of the law and order alone can
tiot commend itself to the intelligence and ia therefore doomed
to fail.”
REV. J. M. SAVAGE: “I believe the common talk that
traces all crime, or nearly all, to drink is false and misleading
Is there no crime In Moiiammedan lands? The Turks are not
____________—1- ••
quite pattern angel,."
BISHOP WEBB OF
MILWAUKEE: "I believe that tlie
federal tendency of the EpUcopal clergy la to favor rather
than oppose a well regulated
ABSURD ASSUMPTION OF MONOPOLY OF MORALS
•Possibly the most ridiculous assumption of the clerical and political orators who have harangued the peo-
ple of. Texas in behalf of the prohibition amendment is that they represent the moral element of the population,
wherens the opponents of the amendment represent the immoral and'disreputable elements of society.
Mo doubt there are some people in every community weak-minded and weak-moraled enough to believe
this twiddle, and perhaps there are some who are so ignorant they cannot detect the impudence ot falsity of the
assumption. Perhaps there are others who are so subjected to the terrorism of the pulpit and the social tyranny
that frequently afflict village life everywhere {hat they dare not entertain a conviction of their own or express
a courageous and intelligent opinion for fear of ostracism.
Thene is nothing new in this. Every prohibition campaign in this country for fifty years has been charac-
terized by* these methods. If the men of the United States had been cowards and yielded to clerical and social
tyranny, we should have had the inquisition, the thumbscrew, the stocks and the stake in operation long ago.
Human liberty has progressed through brave resistance to such things and through steadfast opposition to such
movements.sought the circumscription of individual rights.
iSocial Ostracism and Religious Tyranny
1 whenever such a contest as that now pending:-is
And whenever such a contest as that now pending is forced
upon the people, it sounds a call for brave men, intelligent
men and patriotic men to perform a duty to their country.
The very presence in the campaign of vituperation, slander,
political proscription, social ostracism and religious tyranny
intensifies the obligation upon patriots to endure the bitter-
ness, the hatred and such unselfish sacrifice as circumstances
may impose, to the end that we may save for ourselves and
posterity the liberties that have crowned the struggles of the
centuries.
Observant men who are familiar with conditions in this
.State, know that it is not a single motive that vitalizes the
prohibition movement. There is ,of course, a respectable ele-
ment—mostly women and children—who are dominated by
their emotions, and who seek through the absurd device of
Statewide prohibition to terrtiinate the evils of intemperance.
These all true men can respect and do respect. But there are
others who know that prohibition is a fraud, that it is not in-
vested with an atom of true morality, that it has never elevat-
ed a people subjected to its tyranny, that it is the handmaiden
of crime and disorder, instead of a conservator of law and
righteousness, and that its inevitable fruit is the corruption of
politics and the prostitution of religion's sacred functions to
the base uses of scheming politicians.
Look in Maine today, where a contest similar to that pend-
ing in Texas is being waged. What do we find?
On one side the substantial citizenship of the State, dis-
gusted with the lawlessness, corruption and hyprocisy of half
a century, united to repeal the prohibition article of their con-
stitution, in order that the legislature may be free to enact
laws to suppress the intolerable abuses which have under
Statewide prohibition afflicted Maine like a pestilence.
On the other side! working together, but from different
motives, are the lawless saloon keepers and the clergy—the
saloon keepers to preserve the status quo which enables them
without restriction and without taxation to ply their disrepu-
table traffic and the clergy to preserve the form—there is no
substance—of prohibition. And manipulating these incon-
gruous elements is a hand of corrupt and desperate politi-
cians who have had the'State of Maine by the throat for fifty
years.
Such is Statewide Prohibition in the State which has been
disgraced by this corrupt and criminal policy for half of its
political life.
Intellect and Morality of the Country
Let no citizen think for a moment that the intellect and mo-
rality of this country stands for this discredited policy. Our
great statesmen from Washington down have condemned it.
Our great churchmen who have studied the question under
conditions which enabled them to judge of its innate deprav-
ity, have condemned it: our sociologists, who have closely
studied its blighting effects upon society, have condemned it ;
our great editors of half a century have pronounced it evil in
operation and intolerable in spirit.
The only president of the United States who was ever sus-
pected of the slightest sympathy with it was Rutherford B.
Mayes, and he held his high office through the practice of
fraud, at a time when reason was dethroned and sectional pas-
sion and prejudice had the country in its grip.
“Whiskey Crowd” Argument Refuted
When they tell you that the opponents of Statewide pro-
hibition are “the whiskey crowd,’’ “the saloon advocates,"
and “the immoral element,” look to the long list of great
statesmen and great churchmen who have aligned themselves
against it and ask if prohibition can number among its advo-
cates such an array of mind, morals and character.
Against the frenzied epithets of fanatics and the emotional
appeals of misguided womanhood, we place the ripe judgment
of patriots and ^churchmen in whose integrity and virtue an
intelligent citizenship may repose implicit confidence. Can
they say that these men belong to “the whiskey crowd,” “the
saloon adherents” or “the immoral element?”
Look at the List in Texas
Look at the list in Texas, beginning with Sam Houston
and following down the line. Will his son, now aligned with
the prohibitionists, declare that his immortal father belonged
to “the whiskey crowd?" *•
Will any man who lived through the stress and tyranny of
reconstruction say that Frank Lubbock and James W.
Throckmorton were identified with the “immoral element?”
Will Gov. Campbell say that James Stephen Hogg, whom
lie has tried so futilcly to imitate, was identified with “the
saloon interests?”
Will Thomas H. Rail assert that Senator Charles A. Culber-
son and Senator Joseph W. Bailey oppose the adoption of the
amendment because of their sympathy with the whiskey
traffic?
W ill Cone Johnson of 1911 sav that Cone Johnson of 1887
was a paid agent of the saloons?
Will M. M. Brooks of 1911 say that M. M. Brooks of 1910
was a high priest of the immoral element?
The friends of local option are standing now exactly where
all these men stood several years ago, for the policy which
they themselves formulated. When did this policy'become
the policy of disreputable people?
Read the words of the great statesmen, the great church-
men, the philosophers and publicists elsewhere on this page,
all of whom have had ample opportunity to study the blight-
ing effects of sumptuary laws. Who will say that they are
payroll politicians trafficking in their convictions for the
money of the whiskey traffic? Who will say that the bishops
of great sects belong to the immoral elements of society?
Who will say that Tolstoi, who never saw a saloon, was a
member of “the whiskey crowd?”
What Confederate soldier or son of Confederate soldier will
assert that the immortal president of the Lost Cause was
aligned with the foes of righteousness?
Vicious Appeal to Passion, Cupidity and
Emotion
The aristocracy of intellect in the United States standy al-
most in solid array against the vicious doctrine which politi-
cal craft and misguided zeal are now attempting through ap-
peals to passion, cupidity and emotion, to fasten upon the or-
ganic law of Texas. The great churchmen who have spent
their long lives, consecrated to the uplift of humanity, who
know and understand the impulses of human nature, who
comprehend the sacred functions of the church, who have
learned that force is not a weapon of righteousness, proclaim
against this policy which has left a trail of strife, corruption,
discontent, lawlessness and degradation in its wake wherever
it has been fastened upon a State.
The statesmanship of Jefferson, the wisdow of Lincoln, the
ripe judgment of Cleveland, the eloquence of William J. Bry-
an, the practical sense of Theodore Roosevelt and the strong
common sense of William H. Taft have condemned it as futile
and inherently wrong.
Egotism of Self-Appointed Reformers
Where, then, do these excited reformers get the idea that
they represent the intelligence, the piety and the patriotism
of the State and country? Only in the conceit of narrow minds
and the impudence of a vanity that proclaim their incompe-
tence to assume the grave task of directing the political, relig-
ious and civic progress of society.
Sacred Rights of Citizenship
Fellow citizens, tHis is a time for real men to assert them-
selves in resolute resistance to the intolerant spirit of men who
would subvert the sacred rights of citizenship, who would
deprive the counties of the power to exercise control over
their local affairs* who would institute in the State at large
a reign of political terror, and all for what purpose?
Appeal to the Counties
To establish in seventy-five counties of Texas an era of
official tyranny and corruption, an era of bootleggers and
dives, a riot of graft, a system of espionage that would not
spare the home of the citizen, a military despotism that would
destroy the dearest guarantee of the Bill of Rights, an eco-
nomic upheaval that would paralyze the industrial progress
of a large and fertile section of the State, and to sow the
seeds of discontent and strife.that in the end would threaten
the solidarity of the commonwealth.
Is not this too great a price to pay for the folly of a politico-
religious combination of selfish ambition and fanatical zeal?
Do the people of 165 counties who have banished saloons
through the operation of a provision of the constitution which
gives to the people of each county and each precinct the right
to prohibit the sale of liquor want to surrender the fruits they
have gathered from the tree of local self-government in'order
to degrade and humiliate the people of 75 counties who are
capable of directing their affairs and who are contributing
their full share to the material, moral and social advancement
of Texas?
Will the men of these 165 counties permit themselves to be
bullied, boycotted and driven into a blunder which if once
made might exist to annoy and distract the people of Texas
for half a century?
Serious Menace to Texas
If you are a friend of temperance, remember that the pend-
ing amendment, once adopted, could not be repealed until its
opponents could elect two-thirds of the membership of each
branch of the legislature pledged to resubmission. It has
taken Maine half a century to get the right to vote upon the
question again and we may be sure that the experience of
Texas would not be different.
It would be folly to take a step which if it proved disastrous
could not be retraced, but whose evil consequence would curse
the State for generations, even though a large majority might
desire to return to sane regulation and control.
Present Local Option System Successful
The present local option system of Texas is admittedly the
most successful method that has ever been devised for the
regulation and control of the liquor traffic. It has banished
saloons wherp the people did not want them: it has regulated
strictly and effectively where conditions make license desir-
able; it has everywhere steadily reduced the admitted evils
of the liquor traffic, and if retained will continue to advance
the cause of temperance, virtue and morality in every commu-
nity of the commonwealth.
Adopt the amendment, and the way is closed to a return to
these gratifying conditions. The strife, the disorder, the cor-
ruption, the crime and the commercial and industrial paralysis
would remain to curse us for our folly.
Welfare of Our Great State
Do your duty like men. Endure the persecution they would
visit upon you, if need be; their abuse and their slanders will
not hurt you. The most enlightened thought of the generation
attests the righteousness and truth of the cause from which
they would drive you with the weapons of hate and tyranny,
and the welfare of our great State arises above all the bitter-
ness and all the emotion they have invoked to drive you from
your duty, and remember that in the end the conscious satis-
faction of unselfish and patriotic service will be your portion,
as well as the gratitude of the generations which are to follow
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ANTI-STATEWIDE PROHIBITION ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS
REV, RAUL E. KRETZMAN OF DENVER: ‘ It li wrons
for any society or the State to torbid the individual to make
uee of God'i gift* In the right manner. What the Bible per-
mit* and •auction* we can not condemn. The Bible permit*
the moderate use of liquors, therefore we can not condemn
arch u*e. And the unjust use of force In thla direction breeds
hypocrite* and sneak*. Never by prohibition, but only by sane
teaching can true temperance reform be effected."
REV. DR. WILLIAM WAS80N OF LONO ISLAND: “Four-
tifths of the clergymen of my denomination a#e opposed to
prohibition, although they favor a sane temperance. Many
people are following the prohibition movement because they
have .been misled by
rave .been misled by misrepresentation and fraud. Nlnety-
flv# per cent of those who use Hquor use it temperately.”
REV. CARL BIISFELDT.OF LUTHERAN ORPHAN
HOME: "At the recent Lutheran conference of Wisconsin,
Rev. Mr. Elssfeldt was selected to state the stand of the Lu-
theran clergy. He said: “We can not Join hands’with the
prohibitionists because their principle is wrong. In so far as
they mix ^ood^ use and misuse of things that In themielves
are gifts or God. We regard this as a wrong principle to prohi-
bit on account of the misuse of the .use, manufacture and sale
of anything that In Itself Is not bad.”
REV. J. E. FREEMAN OF NEW YORK: "The saloon t*
here to stay, not merely because it Is tenacious of what It be-
lieve* to be it* legitimate rights, but because there are a ma-
jority of our people who demand its service."
RIGHT REV. THOMAS F. LILLIS, BISHOP OF LEAVEN-
WORTH, KAN.: "Absolute prohibition has proven impractic-
able, if not a dismal failure, and there Is probably as much
violation of the law In those States where prohibition 1* wide-
spread as there Is In those other States where the authorltlee
have hesitated to enforce the present existing laws for the
regulation of the liquor traffic. Prohibition Is an ideal—its
enthronement In this country would indeed be a great blessing
If It could be enforced. However, It Is only a dream, an Ideal,
and for this reason It Is better to have high license and proper
police regulation.”
BISHOP HALL OF VERMONT: “Prohibition drives under-
ground the mischief which It seeks to cure, making it more
difficult to deal with the evil and Impossible to regulate the
trade, as, for Instance. In the quality of liquor sold.”
BISHOP BROWN OF ARKAN8A8: "Generally speaking, I
have also this objection to the prohibitory movement In the
Interest of any form of righteousness, that it Is an attempt to
build upon the sand and a resort to the evil tyranny that
good may be accomplished. I am profoundly convinced that
the superstructure which prohibitionists are seeking to erect
will not stand.”
ARCHBISHOP J. L. SPAULDING OF PEORIA: "There Is
a law of human nature that excessive pressure brought to
bear on any special form of evil results In other evil; and now
when various Influences are diminishing Intemperance
America, there seems to be no sufficient reason for calling
upon the State -to prohibit the manufacture and eale qf alco-
holic liquors. The less we bring the public Into our private,
irsonal and -domestic affairs the freer and happier we shall
ke:
CARDINAL JAMES GIBBONS OF BALTIMORE: "X have
never been able to convince myself that what we call total ab-
stinence Is essential to morality. The moderate and occasional
use of alcoholic liquors Is not to be condemned. In coun-
tries tike France and Italy, where people as a rule drink wine,
no Bertous harm results from the practice. Even in Rome,
even at the Vatican, wine Is not prohibited, and as we know
the papal doctors themselves prescribe It for His Holiness.
Then, again, X long since came to understand that, putting
1IIBU, »e«MII, * IUH6 •Ih’-f w uimoiousiiu viisav, Kwv»,...0
aside the point of principle. It was virtually Impossible to en-
‘ ~ im ‘ •- - ----- —- ........ -
force a total abstinence law In a large community or In a
State. The attempt to enforce such a law must consequent-
ially lead to one of the worst things—Illegality or hyprocisy;
possibly both."
HENRY WARD BEECHER, NOTED DIVINE: “If you say
I ought not to drink I may agree with you, but If you say 1
shall not drink, I will drink and drink whatver I please, be-
cause that is my right.”
BISHOP LINES OF NEWARK, N, J.: "Prohibition leads
to the formation of clubs which can not be controlled and
which are more demoralising than saloons.”
BISHOP JOHNSON OF TEXAS: “I would be the last to
curtail or Infringe upon the rights of men engaged In the
Uquor traffic, for I believe that they have as much right under
the law to sell liquor as I have to preach."
BISHOP GRAFTON OF WISCONSIN: “I can not agree
with those who think that the taking of wine In moderation is
wrong, because the process of fermentation is one of God’s
created acts, and the Divine Master of the Christian religion
turned water into wine.”
BISHOP HOFFMAN OF PHILADELPHIA: "You can not
legislate people into being good and prohibition does not ac-
complish Its desired end after all, as witnessed In the State of
Maine, which Is anything but a closed State except in name.”
BISHOP POTTER OF NEW YORK: “Our prohibitory laws,
whether we put them Into operation on one day or on all days,
are as stupid as they are ineffectual. Most of our methods for
dealing with the drink evil In our day and generation are taint-
ed with falsehood, dishonored by essential unreality and dis-
credited by widespread and consistent failure.”
BISHOP DOANE OF NEW YORK: “No such law can be
framed that will not create popular excitement by its alleged
Interference with Individual liberty, and Its unfali discrimina-
tion of privileges between classes, or will be used, as It lias
been for many year?, as a means of extorting money by city
officials and violators of the law to purchase Immunity.
BISHOP FOX OF GREEN BAY. WIS.: ”1 do not think
there are five bishops In the country, who favor prohibition.
BISHOP CLARK OF RHODE I8LAND: "Prohibition has
been disastrous to the cause of temperance.
BISHOP PERRY OF IOWA: "There Is Just as much
drunkenness under prohibitory laws as there ever was before.
Prohibition does not prohibit. I have lived in five states where
U bVIhOp'cHARLES D. WILLIAMS OF MICHIGAN: ”1 do
not believe that absolute prohibition is possible.”
BISHOP NEELEY OF MAINE: "The clubs are simply co-
teries of young men who call themselves clubs and get togeth-
er and have their bottles In their closets. I am sure that
these clubs have a very bad effect In that young men who
never drank at all previously have done so in the secrecy- of
the club, as they call it; that they'would not be seen to drink
over a bar, but they do It In their club room.”
BISHOP DONOHUE OF WEST VIRGINIA: "T most ear-
nestly protest against threatened prohibition Inflation.
ARCHBISHOP MESSEMER OF MILWAUKEE, WIS: "I
do not believe that we can reform men by law. prohibition.
according to many observers, actually brings more liquor than
the open sale of Intoxicants under supervision."
RIGHT REV. THEOPH1LE MEERSCHAERT, BISHOP
CATHOLIC DIOCESE, OKLAHOMA: "Honest people have
taken It as an Insult to their American freedom. It lias
brought many to a point where they have no respect for tne
law or for an oath, and there has been by far. more drinking
and much more abuse of liquor than ever before.
CARDINAL EDWARD MANNING: “Drunkenness Is not
the sin of drink, but of the drunkard.” , . .
BISHOP BROOKS OF OKLAHOMA: “I am not strictly
opposed to anyone using liquor. It is a matter of man s per-
“"mONSEkJnEUR HARKINS OF MASSACHUSETTS: “X
was here when the prohibitory laws were In effect in this
State and know the evils which existed under them, under
no license in Holyoke there would be less drinking but more
"^ARCHBISHOP RICHARD WHATELY OF DUBLIN, AU-
THOR AND SCHOLAR: "As for those who endeavor to en-
list scripture on their side by maintaining that the wine men-
tioned in the scripture was not an intoxicating liquor, they
must either be themselves very ignorant and silly. If they
really believe It, or must be fostering a pious fraud In the hope
of deluding the simple into what Is right under false pre-
tenses. And pious frauds almost always do more harm than
good to the cause for which they are employed."
B BISHOP GAILOR OF TENNESSEE: "Prohibition is Im-
practicable and Its violation is productive 0f hidden" and
*h*ARCHBISHOP RYAN: "Regarding the ethics of the ques.
n, I am constrained to say that many false prlclples and not
a little fanaticism have characterized this movement. I am in
favor of total abstinence for all people who desire and need It.
I favor high license and every means consistent with true
principles and due respect for Individual liberty to promote the
Pr*RtABB<|f He£sCHC<OF CHICAGO: "The beat safeguard
against drunkenness is that drinking should be enjoyed
OP*REW. DR. BLANCHARD OF PORTLAND, MAINE: "My
eyes were opened to the great evils of prohibition In a very
few years. The clubs organized by young men, the selling of
vile decoctions by women and children, the hypocrisy and cor-
mntlon arrested mv attention."
REV. LYMAN ABBOTT, AUTHOR AND EDITOR: “It
was not the method of Jesus. He lived in an age of total ab-
stinence societies and did not Join them. He emphasized the
distinction between His methods and those of John the Bap-
tist that John came neither eating nor drinking: the Son of
Man came eating and drinking. He condemned drunkenness,
but never In a single Instance lifted up His voice In condemna-
tion of drinking. He commenced his public ministry by mak-
ing wine tn considerable quantity and of fine quality, and this
aDDarently onlv to add to the Joyous festivities of a wedding."
VERY REV. DR. D. J. HARTLEY OF LITTLE ROCK,
ARK : "Evervone knows that there are many saloons that
are perfectly orderly and lawabldlng. where people go to drink
their beer in peace, with congenial comportment, and where a
drunkard is scarcely ever seen. Have I as a minister any
more right to Interfere wph the business of such a place than
a saloon keeper would have to disturb the peace of my con-
gregation while at worship?"
REV. JACOB B. MEEKER OF ST. LOUIS, MO.: "The
greatest fallacy of fhe present time Is that of the right of the
npjority. This nation has attained Its greatness through its
Hcognitlon of the, inalienable right of every man. If I stop a
man from drinkiig beer he has the right to stop me from
drinking coffee."
REV. F. P. KilCHER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.: "One
of my greatest fcrprlses were the conditions prevailing in
what I had hoped jo prove a model prohibition State. Back tn
my town of Milwaukee, a city of 360.000 inhabitants, there are
3*00 saloons and Jirteen breweries, but 1 must confess that In
my five months' afmdence in your new State I have seen more
drunkenness andjkwlessness than 1 ever saw In Milwaukee in
five years' ttmeJT
tdtIl’PRESIDENT CATHOLIC
N ^ SOCIETIES AMERICA: "I .have seen
rnoral<t-. .laM Thes® are some of th« reasons that urge me.
j®"*1"* i? my against pterin* in our
constitution which appear* to me to be bad In morals
in politics.
and lmpractl
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El Paso Morning Times (El Paso, Tex.), Vol. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, July 21, 1911, newspaper, July 21, 1911; El Paso, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth582796/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.