Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-25
PROHIBITION AND LABOR.
Rev. M. G. Lockwood Gives
His Reasons for Joining
the Prohibitionists.
Party Prohibition Closely Identified
with the Interest, of Work.
ingmen.

AAV0A0AsAVA VAOSeAy AueuClueQ
with the Interests Of Work
ingmen.
Cincinnati Cor of the Voice.
Much interest is felt in this city con-
corning the probable future political action
OF the workingmen. A year ago the Labor
party outvoted the Democrats. But there
mas been from the first an evident lack Of.
cohesive power Of the Labor vote. At the
late spring election the Labor ticket polled
only little more than 5000 votes-only'a
small fraction Of the strength shown at The
spring election of 1887. Yet, while there
was an immense reduction in the Labor vote
THIS spring, the votes Of the old parties de.
creased also, indicating that the working
men simply refrained from voting. Evil
IDENTIFY they are ION the fence" politically.
waiting for developments before they form
nav alliances.
The recent announcement that some of
the leaders of the Labor party will hereaf-
Ter act with the Prohibition party is at
tracing attention among the workingmen.
Already movement has been inaugurated
for forming Workingmen's Prohibition
Club. A preliminary meeting with this
purpose in view was held few days ago.
Addresses were made by Rev. N. G.. Lock
wood, n. u. Kitchens, and others promi-
nent In Labor circles. Rev. Mr.. Lockwood
IS probably the most influential man iiep-
titled with the Labor party in Cincinnati.
He said, in pant:
1T the question we were called upon to
consiE1er was simply that of the suppress
sion ct drunkenness, I do not know that
there would be SO large promise of ulti-
mate success in the movement as there is.
believe that the absolute suppression of
drunkenness is not within the reach of law.
Law Gun only minimize temptation, but
cannot control private conduct. 1t NAV
pro Get but cannot reform. The real ques-
ton Of vital Import raised by Prohibition
is, What shall be done with tie power that
is an organized industry for making drunk
ardsp The battle of the Prohibition party
is not with the appetite for alcoholic drink,
but i is a struggle with vast and organ
lied and systematized power of money,
which has entered the political field, cor
rupting politics in its own interests, and
fostering corr lption in Legislatures and
Executives which makes them the ready
tools of all other corrupting influences.
"The existence of the saloon has become
lntolerable, not simply because it is a
temptation to the public but because it is
menace to the nation. The saloon repre-
sents class which has organized itself
against the public good, and by it's ascend
ency in politics provides the means where
by bribery and kindred evils are perpe-
trated.
"There is a class of men in every
community who become alarmed at the
appearance of workingmen in politics,
even when they resort to that legitimate
method provided by our Constitution for
them-the ballot. But the same men for
rro$k 10 hnm al ~ r..
carried on by the lobby among the Great
ures of the saloon. A hue and cry is raised
throughout the length and breadth of the
land it labor organizes to protect itself
against the legislative encroachments of
organized capital. But organized capital
may corrupt Legislature after Legislature
in it's own interests, and the alarm remains
unsounded and the evil goes on. It is
not altogether just to hold the politician
responsible for all the evils of this thing.
The politician is result, not cause. He
is result of conditions which cannot pro-
duce anything better, and so hold it to be
unreasonable for workingmen to curse the
product while refusing to interfere with
the generating cause.
what workingman, in any sense repre-
sentative, can secure an Office at the hands
of the saloon power? What interest dear
to the hearts Of workingmen receives any
consideration at the hands of Legislatures?
craftsmanship, in all its intensity. exists
through the momentum it has received
through past achievements, and has blind
ed us to the consequences of an alliance
or even compromise with the rum power.
And SO things have drifted until the saloon
in politics has become well-nigh para
mount.
II tell you, friends, that the chief object
of politics in the mind of the saloon is to
furnish cover for schemes Of public plum
der. This is the saloon conception, and
/ public plumber means the robbery Of labor:
Practical politics, so called, is simply the
application to party of the ethics or morals
Of the saloon. When workingmen come
to understand that the labor question is
moral one, and that moral questions are
questions to which the saloon is the con-
slant and natural antagonist, then the Ia
boring classes will begin to awaken to the
fact that the power of the saloon must be
broken. 80
"But the real point for workingmen to
consider is, Can we secure any legislation
favorable to us, while the large organiza-
ton Of capital, corrupt and debasing, re-
mains in control of politics? For one, 1
am in no disposition to compromise with
the saloon. In nothing shall be less
loyal to the interests of labor, but more 30,
in giving some OF my time to warfare on
the saloon in politics, and in seeking to
show workingmen how closely party Pro-
bibition is identified with I'LL their inter-
ests. At the same time I find congenial
political home in party where can dis
cuss moral questions and express convic-
tons az to duty to God and man with no
fear Of compromising any party interest"
w ss-4,
The Presbyterian Church and Temp.
.- erance.
The Church at Home and Abroad pub
fishes from Rev. DR.. I. N. Hays, Chair
man of the General Assembly's Committee
on Temperance, condensed statement Of
the teaching and action of the Presbyterian
Church on the subject of temperance, as
voiced and reafirmed from time to time by
the General Assembly. We quote the
concluding paragraphs as follows:
"Our church does not presume to dictate
to the state what kind of temperance OF