Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-07-11

The wonder Is that christian tenn
perance men possessed Of brains and
intellect, will continue to do the bid
ding of the lowest class of men to be
found in their party.
A large, attentive all intelligent
audience gathered Ut the Keidell
school house in school district 10 on
Wednesday evening to listen to the
exposition of prohibition doctrine by
members Of the prohibition club.
The club owe an apology to the peo-
pie of Scott in that they prom
Used music and did not furnish it..
The failure to do so was unavoidable
and we trust will not happen again
in case we should have the pleasure
of visiting our genial friends of Scott
later in the season.
LOCAL OPTION BY COUNTIES.
We do not wish to tie understood in
what follows as being opposed to
county local option for it is better
than any Of our present restrictive
laws, and right here it is well to say
that Prohlbitionists do not oppose
any restrictive laws that are not
coupled with license which involves
their consent to the unprohibitsd re-
mainder. Is
There are, however, serious objec-
tions 10 county local option and es-
specially SO at present, when Its ad-
option would be secured only at the
expense Of postponing the day of state
prohibition. This question will never
be settled until 1t is settled right and
temporary measures only postpone
the day Of final settlement. It's ten
dency 10 to crystalline the rising tide OF
prohibition at low point. The second
objection Is that il Is the hardest Of
all prohibitory laws to enforce. Much
more 30 than our present local option
by towns and villages. The reason
why this Is 80 is found In the fact
that while the entire county could
vote on the simple question of license
or no license only the towns could vote
for the officers who were to enforce
the law. Stevens County would pro.
baby 60 for no licenses, but the vii.
lage Of Morris, containing four out
Of FIVE of the saloons In the county,
would elect a pro license council and
il the saloon keepers undertook to
prosecute their business (Which in
this case we doubt) the citizens could
only secure the enforcement of the
law by means Of law and order legues
&c. a method that generally ends in
dissatisfaction for the people and the
acquittal Of the law breaker.
It 10 not true that county option
gives satisfaction wherever they have
1t. In Canada where they have tried
it longest the temperance people have
given it up In disgust and are now
back where they began. But they
are not discouraged. They have be-
gan, and began right. by organizing
a prohibition party.
Somewhat the same conditions OF
affairs existed in Georgia when the
law has also had long and thorough
trial.
The fight never ends but must be
fought over again at every recurring
election. 1t would be great i'm
provement of county option when
carried could not be voted on again
for ten years.
The real animus Of this movement
is found In the fact that It does not
jeopardise the interests of the Re-
publican party. For 1t is not COM
mitted to 1t. Itlsaves the party free
to advocate It where 1t In popular to
do 50 and, vice versa, TO oppose it
where it 1t IL unpopular. It also has
q tendency to retard the growth ofIthe
Prohibition party. This objection,
however, we would not urge for a
moment did we not feel that the final
solution Of this problem will be pro-
hibition with prohibition party be-
hind it. Then where such party Is
In power the whole weight and In
duence Of the government will De OPP
posed to the liquor traffic and It's final
suppression will only be q question of
o short time.