The American issue. [volume], February 16, 1912, Image 13

About The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
Exert Every Ounce of Energy in Favor of the
Sheppard-Kenyon Bill
It required constant agitation and warfare for
nearly a score of years to secure the enactment of a
pure food law by congress. Every step of the way was
contested by an opposition well organized and backed
by unlimited funds. It was finally accomplished by
means of an overwhelming public sentiment built up
through the years and which has become so strong
that it could no longer be denied.
And yet there was but one side to the question.
The people did not want adulterated food stuffs. They
did not want to pay for what they did not receive,
neither did they want to consume foreign and injurious
substances, but for years they were passive and per
mitted the fraud to continue until they were finally
educated to the point, not only to make demands but
also to see to it their demands were heeded.
When that time came the opposition was swept
away, legal and other barriers were beaten down and
victory came.
For years an effort has been put forth to prevent
the shipment of liquor into “dry” territory. Outside
of those directly engaged in the liquor business it has
been conceded that such a law should be enacted.
Common sense and justice demanded it. In states and
counties in which the people have abolished the sale
of liquor hundreds of men with government licenses
in their pockets deliberately defied the will of the
majority of the people.
In giving aid and encouragement to the boot
legger and speakeasy keeper Uncle Sam has con
tributed more than any other agency to disregard for
law and it is not an elevating spectacle to see the
Federal government in collusion with a lot of law
breakers.
But up to this time all efforts to right this wrong
have proved unavailing. Supreme court decisions
which to many laymen seemed based on technicalities
rather than on broader principles have prevented the
remedy being applied. Of course the great liquor trust
has opposed any change and special interests have
rallied to the support of the liquor lobby in return for
favors previously rendered.
Federal Decision.
The justice of the measures which have been intro
duced in congress from time to time has never been
disputed, but the changes have been rung on their un
constitutionality. The United States court has decided
that it is unlawful to ship liquor into that part of.
Oklahoma which was Indian territory before statehood
was granted and over which prohibition was establish
ed more than a score of years ago. The average citizen
cannot understand why the government should exer
cise greater precaution in behalf of Indians than in
behalf of citizens generally. Bill after bill has been
offered, but the constitutionality of the proposed meas
ure has always been raised and nothing has been done.
But public sentiment is now stronger than ever be
fore. The “dry” area is constantly widening and more
people are seeing the unfairness of the Federal govern
ment in shielding the lawless liquor element and aid
ing it in nullifying law. More senators and repre
sentatives in congress than ever before see the neces
sity for a change and are ready to vote for it. The
Sheppard-Kenyon bill now before congress is believed
to be drawn so that it will stand the constitutional
test and give the relief sought. Many of the influential
newspapers of the country declare the bill is just and
fair and should be made a law.
Every ounce of energy on the part of the temper
ance people of the country should be directed in favor
of the bill. Every temperance man and woman and
every temperance reform organization should bombard
congress in behalf of the bill. Write your congress
men and senators to support the Sheppard-Kenyon
measure to prohibit shipments of liquors into “dry”
territory and keep up the agitation until the bill is a
law.
What Is Soul Saving?
Merely to give to a man the assurance that his sins are forgiven and that he can read his title
clear to mansions in the skies, is not to save his soul.
Millions of men have had that assurance with no misgivings at all, and have remained selfish,
hard-hearted, greedy, extortionate, pushing their schemes ruthlessly over their prostrate competitors,
with no sense of any social obligation and no other motive in life than to get the most they could out
of all their fellow men, and to give as little as possible in return. There are such people in all our
churches, plenty of them. And it is becoming a serious question whether the churches, whose business
it is to save souls, ought not to make it plain to such people that their souls are not saved—that they
are not even in the way of being saved.
It is just this class of people who are apt to be most strenuous in their demands that the minister
shall confine himself to the business of saving souls. It is high time that they were taken at their word
and that they were fully enlightened as to just what happens to a man when his soul is saved. Nothing
is more needed than a good deal of very elementary teaching about what is meant by the saving of
souls.—Washington Gladden.