The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-20
CoNCERr OF ACTION

@A~D0@@~- MI
In the discharge Of the various duties
Of life and in meeting OF overcoming
the difficulties by the way. il has ever
been found necessary TO combine efforts
and labor for tbs desired end.
The temperance element OF society Is
now upon trial. In Kansas the consti-
tuition has been amended, and . prohib-
tory law enacted. The means seem TO
have been furnished, but the end is not
yet. The laws prohibiting other crimes
crimes OF themselves and crimes made
80 by Statute-are, as q rule. respected,
and In q great measure successfully en-
forced. And the failure 20 enforce them
seems 10 create q quickened public con-
science and demand for their gindica-
tIon.
The liqour traffic 10 its relation to
law, Is, or seems TO be, exceptional.
Horse thieves, murdeters and robbers,
their friends ana their attorneys do not.
as q rule, criticise the law; nor do they
Inaugurate political campaigns nor lob
by legislatures to prevent the passage of
the law prohibiting such offenses.
When the great evils of the
liquor traffic challenged attention
and The victims Of that traffic
asked even slight protection
the traffic protested. Those who are now
outside of the demand for the perfect
enforcement Of the prohibitoEy Law, then
were prompt in opposing even a mild
license; and largely upon the plea that
. small minority should not dictate TO
any community. Next local option
which seemed democratic enough-was
tried and the same onIfit and element
opposed that measure. Besides, those
interested IN the traffic habitually VIC
lated those measures. Prohibition Is
next attempted. and they now think our
former license law just the thing. It
must be patent TO all that this clement
in society are essentially law breakers,
and are never sincerein their prelentions.
Were it not for these facts the constitu-
tiOnal amendment could never have
been adopted. - ,s
Like all evil influences they combine.
Vicious, wicked, disgusting and abbor-
rent as any thing connected with this
traffic Is. il succeeds, by its combined
action, in gaining recognition and is
barely censured by the press or by pre-
tended Statesmen in its attempt To- de-
bauch Legislation and corrupt pubic
morals. The following circular address
ed to candidates for the legislature in
Ohio, Is in point,
UNITED LIQUOR DEALERS
CENTRAL Con-,
CINCINNATI, Sept. 81, 1881.
DEAR SIR: A submission Of your
| views On the subject Of liquor legisla-
tion is respectfully requested. 1t is per-
haps unnecessary to inform you that the
enactments already upon the statute
books against the sale OF spirituous
liquors are sufficient to secure absolute
prohibition in all localities where such
laws arc sustained by the public senti-
ment. l. $500.
The united liquor interests Of this
county, brewers, distiilers, wholesale
dealers, and salOon-keepers, nave deter
mined to support no candidate of any
party for legislative Office unless pledged
to oppose any direct legislative enact
ments bearing on the sale Of spirituous,
vinous, or malt liquors, or the submits
sion 10 the people Of any constitutional
amendments making possible ''local
option" or other more striagent legisla-
ton upon this subject ~
We shall be pleased 10 have your ideas
upon this question. Failure to reply
hy October 4th will compel us to regard
your pOsision'asi himical TO our interests,
and action wifi be- taken accordingly
Very Resp'E, Il J, WpRKUM,
T. Fol- nistillers and dealers.
G. w, Ross, for the Rtewefs, ''a
+. K. STEvEs, for Saloon hsaners.
Address reply to L. J, WoFknm, chair
! man Central Committee, 90 and 80
Main street, Cincinnati.
Here is an admission that the law as
it now exists In Ohio if Sustained by
public sentiment would secure absO-
lutte prohibition" We have a better law,
and yet thus far have failed to secure
absolute prohibition" What is wanted ?
Public sentiment What is being
done TO make that public sentiment felt !
Are temperance people looking up the
position of candidates for whom they
are TO vote! Is there any reason why
good people, in the intent of good NOR
ais, public safety and the law, may not
combines Their enemies do, and they
must.