West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-07-21
POLITICAL RESPONSIBsIITY OF
LIQUOH LEGISLATION.

LiQDOH LEGISLATION.
A veritable political + voution is in
progress IN Iowa where thousands of mer
who have heretofore been Republicans are
deserving the party because of it's fanat
ical position on the liquor question. Al b.
ready the "trimmers' are frightened at the
outlook, which promises the election Of
three or four Democratic Clngrcssmen,
and they are advocating compensation To
the brewers, who have large sums OF
money invested ia their brewerits. and
arc now forbidden TO use them for tie
purp ses they were constructed 10 accom-
plish. II Is urged that they inv, stcd their
money in business which at the time
was protected by the law, aud that they
are entitled To- compensation when a
change. puryoselY designed 10 6cs'roy
that business. IS made n the laws Of The
state The feeling against the Republ-
can party leaders is intense ly bitter i'm the
cities aud large TO us. la Dubuqus over
D 600 votes were were poiled at the rcont
ei ction, of which only n few hundred
were for the constitutional amendment.
The Democrats are likely TO gain l 600
vo;es in Dubuque alone, and are pretty
sure To- elect Congressman in the dis
trict Of which it is the chief city T-B1s-
ton Post.
The situation as above described,
10 Iowa, demonstrates the impossl-
ollhy OF dIvorcing 70 itics and the
hq1or question.
The appeal is to political plrties
Iirst CT last. If prohlb.tory laws are
passed under the guse Of a prolessed
IA dependent movement which e4iists
the tenn erance element Of both po-
iiilcal parties, yet, at last. one or he
other OF the political purties is sp-
pealed to undo what has been done,
and he politicians roper are always
ready to take advantage OF the pre-
val'ing pr'jni!ce and invegle their
party INTO the contest.
Iowa being largely a Republican
State, the Rel ubncan party is easily
made seeronslbIe for the passage Of
the rr1tibitory amendment, though
It was proposed, not az q party
measure, but purely as a temper
auce measure; and it is probable
hat good part OF the Democratic
vote was cast for it and d large part
Of the Republican vote cast against
1t.
The same lhiog ia e-onacted iu
all the States where prohiJitory
measure are ATTEMPTED. It is al
ready in process OF incubation in
West Virginia. Tie temperance
party rroless to ignore politics.
They profess 10 be acting iudepen-
dentiy Of political parties. They
hope to draw, and Will succeed in
drawing, from each OF The political
parties.
Under these circumstance, if a
| probibitory measure is submitted by
he Legislature and adopted at. the
polls, it Will be done by the com
bined vote Of Democrats, RepubIi-
cans aod GreenbacKers.
But The Democratic party isin the
msjority in West Virginia If a
| prohibitory law is adopted, here, by
the same logic tbat holds The Rgpub.
'icau party responsible Tor It in Iowa,
the Democratic party Will be re-
sponsible 10 West Virgins.
The question then is, will the Re-
| pub lean party Of West Virginia
thereupon seek TO take advantage
Of The consequent prejudice and get
up an sntl-prohibilion campaign in
West Virginia? Who can speak for
it?- Wheeling Register
Let The Democratic Party Of Wet
Virgins DARE no DO EiGHrl though
all the allied powers Of K,og Alec
hoI the Republican Party and tie
/ Devil staLJ 10 the way. Let pro.
bibition amendment TO the corstitu-
ton Of The State be submitted, and
let ihe voice Of The rooF be heard
and hss5cd.