The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-11-07
Of Missouri Politicians, Chas
P. johnson, Talks About
Prohibition.
He Declares it to be the Only
Hope of the Country From
the Curse of Rum.
Words of Wisdom From Missouri
Ablest Criminal Lawyer on
This Subject.

Gov. johnson, whose arrival in the city
was noticed in yesterdays Times, was in.
terviewed on the political situation by a
Times reporter, aud gave expression t.
some very decided opinions.
Are you going TO make any more
speeches during the campaign" asked the
reporter.
NO, sir, think not; have too much
other wo.k 10 look after"
"Whst do you think Of the campaign
generally"
"Weil, IT has been rather a one-sided
affair. 1t has been quite vigorously con-
Quoted Oh the part OF the democracy
Speakers have Travelled the state in all d.
rections, and talked upon vital questions
The tariff has been discussed, and its dis
eliminating expressions shown up, the
errors of the financial system of the coun-
Try pointed out, the dangers in the ex-
panding and csrrupting power OF monop-
Olies generally descanted on. And some
speakers, notably Mr. Vest, have spoken
against prohibition"
"Hase you referred Ia the question:"
'Only TO ssy that I favored it's submits
sion t. the people. And cannot, for the
life of me, See how any consistent demo-
crat can oppose the submission Of the ques.
ton to the people"
why have you not discussed prohibi-
tion?"
"When asked by the central committee
to take part IN the present campaign sup-
posed Tie, wanted me to use every argu.
lnent possible 20 induce the people to send
q solid delegation to congress. These az
guments would very naturally be in ref
erence to questions OF national legislation.
We are not running candidates for con-
gress On the prohibition or anti-prOhibi-
biliOn platform. Nor are we running q
candidate for supreme judge. railroad
commissioner or superintendent OF public
schools on such u platform. Where does
the anti prohibition Issue come in then
Is il in the election of senator's and rep
resentatives 10 the state legislature? Why,
the only way they can he involved is on
the question of submission. They cannot
be- delegated to pass a prohibition law.
Then what is the purpose of this anti
prohibition at this time? / think il means
Ia prevent its submission To the people for
their discussion. There is evidently fear
abroad that unless some ingenious and de-
ceptive obstacle is raised the people will
obtain what they have a right to obtain, q
specialization Of their jus, opinions and
legal rights into binding statutes"
"Do you not think the state convention
had this in view when they adopted the
platform they did? ?"
"What! that this subject should not be
submitted by the next legislature? Never.
Ii the question had been presented in that
way, and vote taken whether or not the
people should have the privilege of voting
for or against a prohibition amendment
The convention would almost unanimously
voted for its submission, and would have
instructed their representatives TO vote Tor
such submission"
Aud you think il was bad policy to
force the issue ut this timer"
II most undoubtedly do. 1t is simply
an attempt to bind the democratic party to
the anti. prohibition cause. The leaders in
the party have made their usual mistake
No sOouer does the campaign open than
VOORHEES, in Indiana, Vest in Missouri and
Morrison in Illinois make speeches agsins,
prohibition Every body can see why it is
done. They expect to catch the German
vote, and a temporary oscillation in Ohio
causes some people to think that success is
finally assured and the winning card dis.
covered at last / cannot see ii in that
light. Successful in Ohio through the
means as used, this year, but therein has
been planted the seeds of party disaster for
the future Mark the prediction"
"What is your position on the question:"
81 am in favor If prohibition, and il it
is submitted at the next general election.
and expect it will be, propose To do all
\
do you think prohibition the most
effectual way to deal with the liquor traf.
fec"
81 do now. / did not think SO a year
ago. In the last legislature voted against
submitting it. thought then a high
license system, with vigorous inspection
laws and strict police supervision, would
remedy existing evils. In an interview
in the Post Dispatch during the summer sf
1881, WHEN there was perfect carnival of
crime in ST. Louis, pointed out as the
precedent and precipits,ing causes the
ex silence Of SO great a number of whisky
shops scattered throughout the city, and
advocated their decrease through largely
augmented license. Since that time nave
earnestly studied the question, and have
reached the conclusion that there is no
middle ground OIL which to stand in deal
ing with the liquor traffic. The only al
tentative is destroy or be destroyed"
should suppose in your practice you
had been studying il all your life !"
"Yes, but not in all its phases have
long since known by experience that the
great bnlk of crime is traceable to liquor.
The saloons end whisky shops are the seed
plots of vice and crime. and their deadly
effects are permeating every class of society.
Abolish them instead OF fostering and pro-
tecting them by custom and Law, and you
remove the greatest temptation and cause
to err. You would remove the volume Of
crime two-thirds. 1t is not sentimental
ism to say that society makes the greater
part of her criminals. As class they are
to be pitied. The more learn Of criminal
life the more sympathy / have for my
fellow man. The study of the unseen i'm.
polling forces coming from hereditary
transmissions, bad training ami censta utly