The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-07
A Tough Problem.

coed that the Prohibition party cannot aid
the temperance cause in that all-impOrtant
and main problem:a The abolition OF the
"saloOn," to such an issue where the benefit
derived will prove mutual or national one
and not local affair; as is now the case
where one community derives slight benefits
at the expense Of another.
What the party might do, or be in a posi-
ton TO accomplish as the governing party
in the United States. need not be taken into
consideration in this argument, for the sim
pie and sufficient reason that, should PrOhi-
bitiOnism ever, in the course of a half cen
fury or so, be fortunate enough to gain the
supremacy over the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties and control the government
the party would have undergone such won
derful changes by that tme-the natural
consequence of the recruitment from the
old parties-as would make the heaEteOf the
temperance cause feel sick and look in vain
to find in that political body. its nurslng-
the Infant" Prohibition party.
Oreturn to the argument: NOtwithStand
ing the cry heralded from various PrOhibi
ton localities to the contrary; all fair
minded people, upon little reflection, will
admit that Prohibition is not a success. No
one cares to dispute that Iowa has been ben
Gifted to a certain extent: that she has re-
duced slightly, her criminal populations
that there is more moral cleanneSS and in
dustry manifested as the direct result of the
abolition Of the saloon" But admitting
all This. does il folIaW that prohihitOn iS a
success? Viii not the fair minded stop and
ask themselves what became of the saloons
abolished; what of the criminal population
driven out as the result thereof. before pro-
nouncing hasty verdict in favor of Prohi
bitioD?
Figuratively speaking; disease merely
transferred Or forced from one part of a
body TO another, cannot be termed a sue
cesstul cure. Neither can transfer of the
liquor traffic with its accompanying crmi-
mails certainly be called an eradication; or
better still, a demolition of that much evil.
LII support. of this illustration. the inves-
tigatOr need Ouly refer to statistics from the
licensed states surrounding Iowa. Illinois
for instance. will show a large Increases both
as regards liquor traffic, and criminal pOpu-
latiOn, to say nothing at all OF the rapid in
crease Of the otherwise morally depraved
characters. that is perceptible within her
borders. PrOhibitiOniStS claim this in
crease. which. to state it light, is alarming
is due only to the natural growth of the
state and ignore the fact that Iowa refugees
form any fraction thereof. Common sense
however says otherwise; and as it is with
Illinois, so also is it with other licensed
states. The refugees from Prohibition dis
trictS drift to one or the other of them:
thus giving one community peace and pros
perity at the expense OF another.
In view of these facts. does it not become
apparent that Prohibition is failure and
that those who claim for their respective
localities benefits to the temperance
cause. are so blinded in their SeltshneSs as
to forget all interests but their own? But
how then can the refOrmers operate, so
as to attain to. and finally obtain, result
beneficial all around? The problem is
difficult one and many have grown gray
haired attempting to solve it. For nOvelty'S
sake. the following, my solution. is SUBJ
mltted to all interested in temperance work
and others of the great human family who
would care to behold, or rather would wish
to have their children and generations fol-
lowing behold, model, moral country. in
these our glorious United States of America:
Let the temperance refOrmerS. en- maSse
the W. c. L. T., G. t. A. u, Y. NJ. C. A.,
ProhibtlonstS. ETC., ETC., cooperate to
this extent; that they petition congress
to enact law. as a matter of national i'm
portance compelling public schools to adopt
as fixed institution, a course of study
the component parts to be moral training
temperance teaching, etc. Other schools
would readily follow suit. The reader can
imagine the result such system would
bring about The boy from childhood up
is taught those things which in later life he
will have to avoid, as being poisonous to
the morals. He grows to manhood with a
full knowledge OF the poisons to be avoided,
and what is more to the point; he will avoid
thepolson. or in other words. liquor. For
show me the person: boy man woman or