New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-01-14

IDS, prohibition has been tried. AL.
% in several other States, local OPP
ion has obtained which could be
made to prohibit in a limited way.
From all these we get the same tes-
;imony: that prohibition does prohibit.
And, just to the extent that proper
aw has been employed, drunken.
less and all consequent vices have
disappeared.
6. The sum then of what we are
agreed upon, is: 1. We must have
the right kind Of a prohibitory law.
.. That law must be enforced, 3. It
is Christian duty to try in a peace
able way to obtain and enforce that
law. ...
The points on which the friends
Of prohibition may differ are:1. What
kind of law do we want? Q. How
can we get such a law! 8. How can
such law be enforced! I want, to
say a few things on each one of these
points. And while | have much to
learn yet on these matters, I only
claim that attention that attaches
to score of years of study and work.
l. What kind of a law do ace apant?
l. As we speak of a State law, we
can not so arrange it that these H.
quors may not be imported, other
wise we would begin at that point
to prohibit.
2. The law should prohibit the
manufacture and sale Of all intoxi.
cants in clear manner, so that its
terms can have but one interpreta.
ton.
3. The penalties should be both
by fine and Imprisonment. While
the fines of many cases should be
heavy, as the magnitude of the crime
is great; yet there are those engaged
in this nefarious business that will
continue in the spite Of all these.
Nothing short ofimprisonment will,
therefore, prevent the continuation
Of the evil. Civil damage may at.
tach to prohibitory law: and should,
as in theft, or any other crime in
which one is injured by another.
4. This law should provide Estate
police or ''constabulary, ''by which
the power Of the State can be brought
to bear on any city or community in
the State. This will bring the NOR.
al power of the Commonwealth to
bear where such power is needed.
II. Hoe can such q lalc be obtained!
l. By constitutional provision.
This if submitted by the legislature,
may be adopted by vote of the peo-
pie, after which it may be incorpor-
ated by second legislature. This
is tedious process, [ grant, but 1t
has real value in it. (a.) It con.
tains a lesson from the people on the
subject. (). 1t will give permanencv
to the law in SO far it goes. A con.
stitntional provision however can
not contain ally Of the penalties by
which vicious persons shall be re-.
strained from selling intoxicants,
without which constitutional pro.
vision would be dead letter. These
penalties can only be had by the en-
actments Of the General Assembly
and are subject to change, like any
other Legislative action.
This shows iile utter folly of the
in]agitioil That everything may be
settled by vote of the people on a
question CT constitutional amend
ment.
2. As the proper penalties can
only be had by legislative enact
ment, it is simply certain that we
are dependent upon the General As.
sembly for them. Hence penalties
can only be obtained by having
those men in the legislature who ia.
Vor prohibition, either on their own
account, or, because of the wish OF
the persons or power that put them
INTO office.
3. AS the representatives of any
party, in their public conduct are
The tair opponents Of the platform
IN which they were elected, unless
he platform of the dominant party
las prohibition in it, we will not
get a prolititory law, except by the
nerest chance. And if we should
obtain a law in this way, it would
be a short. lived affair. The
,ther element would arouse, and the
lext Assembly would repeal the law.
Such has been the history so far.
And though we had a constitutional
provision against the license bust
less, the legislature can repeal the
PENALTIES aud make the law a mere
arce. Hence the only State in
which prohibition has become a fix
ure, is Maine, where the dominant
,arty, and, indeed, both the parties,
,ave prohibition in their political
platforms. ...
4. It is barely possible to influence
} Legislature to enact a prohibitory
aw by petitions. One legislator is
lot particularly interested in the
wishes Of another mans constitu.
nts, because he does not expect to
iced their help in his next election.
Hence general petitions on this sub.
ect usually affect general assembly
ess than a basket Of champagne. As
write this, | have in my mind, at
his writing, cords Of petitions that
ave been sent to the legislature of
pennsylvania, New York, Michigan,
)hio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin. |
Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. I'll
Of particular value can
ow be accomplished by petitions
hey must be sent by the counties to
he men that renresent them. And I