The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-10

friends took it out of partisan politics to the
forum of the school-house, the church, the pub
lie meeting and wherever men could consider It
unabiased and untrammeled by partisan re!e-
tions. Public sentiment was being educated to
favor prohibition, and public opinion became so
strong that IN Difference to it Republicans de-
cided. in the Legislature CT 1850, 10 submit 10
popular vote q constitutional amendment. II
was necessary that such proposition should
pass two successive Legislature and this was
done In 1880 and 1882, Republicans voting
submit and Democrats voting no. and the special
pon-partisan election was ordered for May 30.
1852. The result OF that election showed that
the prohibitory amendment was adopted by
nearly 80. 900 majority.
The action OF the Republican party 60 far had
been a continued response 10 public sentiment,
State. Before the new law was put into effect
test case was taken to the Supreme Court,
which decided that there had been an in
formality or irregularity in the passage Of the
proposition through the Legislature sufficient 10
invalidate it and render the law unconstitution-
al. The Republican party had then but the one
course open which in honor and with due regard
TO its duty Co the people. il eould follow.
It knew that the popular will had
declared for prohibition. A technicalty
In the passage Of the amendments had made it
invalid The only thing left for the party 10 do
was TO respect that will by passing a statute.
making good what had been lost. The party
pledged itself to do SO, and on that issue fought
OF 1884 with majority Of but one IN the House
of Representatives. Every influence which the
liquor power could command was brought to
bear to have the party break its pledge TO the
people Like a wall OF granite the Republican
majority in the House and Senate stood By its
pliRhted faith. even bringing from his sick-bed
. member with . broken leg, whose vote was
the one needed in the House to keep the pledge
and pass the bill
But the Republican party kent its promise
and passed the present. prohibitory law, which
went into effect July Of that same year, 1854.
Two years later the law was supplemented by
what il known as the Clark injunction law add
ing facilities for the more stringent enforcement
OF prohibition, and this like each preceding
measure was passed by the Republican major
nority. So the present law, pronounced by
many to be the best prohibitory law in the
United States, is entirely the result, of non
partisan efforts, assisted BY the Re-
publican party when public sentiment
was 90 strong as to indicate general desire for
it, and general disposition to enforce il after
1t should DO given. The third-p Prohibition
lists cannot claim that il was their separate or
ganization that compelled Republicans 20 take
no prohibition, for it was not until after the
third party had dwIndled away, dropping in its
vote from l0, $50 TO 1888 that the Republican
Legislature took the first step toward prohibi-
ton. But just as the third party declined, pub
lie sentiment in favor Of non-partisan methods
increased, resulting eventually in securing pro-
hibtion at the hands Of the Republican party.