The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-20

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
/ assume from the tenor of the call upon
which they are to meet for consultation that the
Republican prohibitionists who will assemble in
your city next Tuesday, July 20, will concede
the impractcability of making prohibition a sue
cessful issue in the election campaign Of this
year in this State
They will also concede the fact that very
large number of Republicans, who are in full
sympathy with the cause of temperance reform,
are not satisfied that prohibition is the wisest
and best method o. promoting that cause
From these premises draw the conclusion
that they are seeking the best means of uniting
the Republican party upon some acceptable
basis of action which will be right in itself, and
give promise of the advancement of the cause of
sobriety, good morals political purity, and the
peace, happiness and welfare of mankind.
Permit me, then, to suggest basis for this
desired unity of Republican sentiment and &C
ton. The saloon has entered politics, and is
recognized as an active, powerful and aggressive
element in all of our political contests | count
1t. naturally and generally. if not universally.
hostile to the Republican party. 1t is also the
great source of the evils of the liquor traffic. It
rs, furthermore, lawless and law-defying This
being the case. it seems to me that the
hostile and admittedly evil and law break
ing saloon is the point of attack upon
which the Republican forces can be rallied and
united. Surely, too may reasonably expect
that the bugle calls for such an attack would
bring to our ranks many thousands of the oppo-
nents of saloons among the masses of the people
who are not closely bound to any party allegi
Rnce.
The plan of such campaign need not be elab-
crate OF intricate. A few plain words will define
It. For instance, let the Republican party say
authoritatively
THE saloon traffic in intoxicating liquors is q
I'd a,n1a a
our best efforts to secure, the restriction of this
evil TO the greatest practical extent under the
operation and thorough enforcement of whole
some laws
will be an easy matter for the same authority to
outline the details of his policy.
Experience under the weakness and ineffi-
cheney of our laws regulating the saloon busi-
ness has been our teacher. and ton intelligent
mon out OF twelve of the entire population of the
State will readily agree that we want more re-
sponsbity in the saloon-keeper, not only in the
personal character of the man. but, also, in the
damages that may result from his sale of
liquors We want absolute certainty and uni
sormity IN the collection of the tax imposed upon
the saloon We want this tax for revenue only
20 Offset the public expenses inevitably resulting
from the existence of the saloon, under any re-
strictions that can be devised. We want the
tax at the highest rate, without making the sa-
loon too important and conspicuous as bearer
Of tax burdens. We want prohibition
absolute and certain, of the saloon
sale of liquors on Sunday. and other
legal holidays. during certain hours Of the night
and to minors, drunken men ard habitual
arunkards. We want all games and amusements
banished from such places where liquor is sold
20 De used as beverage We want a right of
remembrance that viii prohibit the establish
ment OF saloon IN any precinct where a major
ity of the voters of sach precinct NAV object in
proper manner and form
Upon such platform as this believe the Re-
publican party can be solidly united, and giori-
GUS triumphant If the saloon shall antagonize
1t, so much the worse for the saloon This move
0ens appears to me TO be so clearly the right
thing TO do AZ this time that | cannot refrain