Letter to Senator Theodore G. Bilbo from Pastor Jesse D. Franks on February 23, 1938

Letter to Senator Theodore G. Bilbo from Pastor Jesse D. Franks on February 23, 1938

Prohibition.

A two-page letter from Pastor Jesse D. Franks to Senator Theodore G. Bilbo on February 23, 1938 concerning State Prohibition measures and legislation.

Jesse D. Franks

Theodore G. Bilbo Papers, Box 338, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries

First Baptist Church of Columbus, MS

1938-02-23

Theodore G. Bilbo

Copyright not evaluated.

PDF Scan of a Physical Letter, 185KB

En

Text

Joshua Uriah Jenkins

Mrs. E. L. Phillips, Church Secretary | Miss Rhobia Taylor, Student Secretary

First Baptist Church
Jesse Dr. Franks, Pastor
Columbus, Mississippi

Hon. Theo. G. Bilbo,
United States Senate
Washington, D.C.

My Dear Senator:

Thank you for the copy of your speech. I chanced to visit teh Senate Chamber back in the early part of January, saw you from the visitors gallery, had you paged a little later when I was preparing to leave, but you were not to be found at that time.

I have been interested in the filibustering tactics of our Southern Senators in their opposition to the anti-lynching bill, and have kept up with it more or less. It seems now as if you have it defeated.

You doubtless noticed that our Mississippi legislature recently defeated overwhelmingly a hard liquor proposal. There cannot be any doubt as to how the citizens of Mississippi stand with stand with reference to the legalization of liquor. We are against it strongly, and are still convinced that the only sensible way to deal with a business which is essentially a social, political and moral outlaw, is to outlaw it. Where can there be any consistency in legalizing and fertilizing the mother of the major part of our crimes, and by the same authority outlawing her numerous, legitimate criminal children?

I am writing this letter to ask if there is not something the United States Government can do to assist the States in their fight against the liquor business. I am told that in Mississippi that there are many hundreds of liquor dealers who hold Federal licenses to sell liquor in Mississippi in violation of our State laws. Is not this an open violation upon the part of our Federal Government of our much-cherished principle of State Rights? Is not this in violation of the guarantee which the Twenty-first Amendment to our Constitution gives the States wishing to retain prohibition? It seems to me that it is. It is a curious governmental anomaly that allows our National Government to reach its strong hand into our States and promote, encourage and take money for that which our States outlaw, and it with impunity. In Mississippi we are forced to regard the Federal Government as our chief and preferred bootlegger.

Hon. Theo. G. Bilbo, Page #2

If I recall correctly, our Democratic-wet friends(?), including our President himself, promised the voters that if they would repeal the Eighteenth Amendment they would guarantee that the old saloon would not return and that the dry States would be protected in their prohibition efforts and legislation. Have they kept this promise? To ask such a question is ridiculous. It only provokes laughter among the wet politicians, and a victorious "horse laugh" from the liquor dealers. Evidently they had no intention of keeping the promise when they made it.

Is there not something you can do to aid us in this fight? Some measure you might propose that would at least take Uncle Sam out of the bootlegger class in dry States? Could not some effort be made by the Federal Government to carry out the full promise of the Twenty-first Amendment? Ours is the fight of all the moral and temperance forces of the Nation: the churches, schools, homes, P.T.A., W.C.T.U., Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A, all kinds of religious organizations and societies among our fine young people, women's clubs and many, many types of educational and temperance organizations, backed by scientific investigations and facts.

Could not all kinds of liquor advertising be stopped? It is reliably reported that the liquor people, including hard liquor, wines and beer, have spent in the last five years at least $75,000,000.00 in advertising, to say nothing of what they have spent in promoting liquor legislation and elections in the States.

I am writing you because I have understood that you have all along been against the legalization of liquor in any form and, therefore, can consistently propose dry measures in Congress. You would certainly make many friends among the dry people of your own State and other States, and would champion a most worthy and far-reaching reform.

Yours sincerely,

Jesse Franks

Letter