The Press., 1889-06-20
GOV. BEAVER ON PROHIBITION.

GOV. BEAVER ON PROHIBITION.
 Gen. James A. Beaver, governor of Pen sylvania, who presided at recent meeting in that state in favor. of the pending con- stitutional prohibitory amendment said
 In the broad sense this is purely polit- cal question that is, it affects the general policy of the commonwealth and the vel fare of her people. It is not 8 political question in the ordinary sense of that term; that is, it is not a question of par tisan politics. No political party in this state, so far as know, has ever pledged its support to this particular measure. Its submission to the people at this time is doubtless due to the efforts of what has been known in Pennsylvania for number of years as the constitutional amendment This association, composed of democrats, republicans, prohibitionists and labor union men, has studiously avoid ed partisan politics and has worked out side of ordinary paf9isan lines. The amend ment known as the prohibitory amendment was penned, it is believed, by member of that association. When, in the judg- ment of the members of that association, the time had come for submitting to 8 vote of the people the question in which it was specially interested, and that knowledge was made public, one of ouEy principal po- litical parties committed itself by public utterance to the submission of the ques- tion to vote of the people, agreeing that, if entrusted by the people with the power so to do, they should have the right to vote upon this question. Whether or not the public utterance thus made was the cause of the party so pledged being en- trusted with power can not be definitely stated. Certainly it is that the result fol- lowed the pledge; but the party making the pledge can not claim the credit-if credit be due-for the sole or exclusive agency in submitting the question to the vote of the people of the commonwealth.
 ! As you are we'll aware, in order to amend the constitution of the commonwealth there must first be favorable action upon a joint resolution submitting the amend action was had, first, by the legislature of 1887, and subsequently, by the legislature which has but lately adjourned. The reso- lution was in neither case distinctly op- posed by any political party. In it's pass age members of both political parties, rep resented in the legislature, voted for it's submission, and individual members of both voted against it. It cannot, there. fore, be claimed that either party is entirely responsible for its submission. It comes before us, therefore, as distinct proposi. tion, without the imprimatur of any politi cal party. All parties, as l understand it, leave their members entirely free to vote either for or against the amendment. The question is divorced from all other issues Those who favor the amendment stand up on a platform which consists of singk plank. That plank as expressed in the ballot which they will cast is, simply "Fo1 the Amendment" Those who oppose its adoption stand upon a platform whicl consists of single plank. That plank, al expressed in the ballot which they vii cast, is Against the Amendment.
 This is the issue. It involves, as yor will see, a question of great and grave pub lie policy, and is, therefore, in its broad sense, political question, involving as i does the happiness and welfare of the peo pie and the prosperity of the common wealth. I represent no one in the posi- tion which I assume upon this subject Without reference to political affiliation upon other questions, upon which hay decided views we'll known, stand unhesi tatingly and unequivocally upon the singl plank-s'for the amendment" do thi as an individual citizen, and not as tn Representative of others. Ipledge no ma1 and desire to pledge no man to like action
 This is 8 question which admits of tn exercise of individual judgment. Being
 question of policy, it is one about whic men may differ, and honestly differ. Tn right to differ is cordially conceded.
 As I look at the question it is not
 moral question. It undoubtedly involve public morals, but t does not involve tn moral character or moral conduct of tn individual. It does not say that the ind
 vidual shall drink intoxicating liquors 0 shall refrain from drinking them. It doe not prescribe the conduct of any one, no does it interfere in any way with his pei sonal liberty It simply says that it against the general policy of the common wealth to allow intoxicating drinks to b manufactured, sold or kept for sale.
 The question for the people at this tim to consider is, How do you vote upon ths proposition? It is not a question as t whether prohibition prohibits. It is not
 question as to whether or not the law ca
 be enforced. It is not question of choic between high license and low license, c between low license and no license. Th policy of this state has been for man years in favor of the restriction of the tra
 fic in intoxicating liquors Our licens isystem has been restrictive system planned originally by men who were dt sirous of going as far as they believed tn sentiment of the commonwealth would SUI
 tain them in restricting the traffic. I hay great respect for the memory of the me dead, and for the men now living, wh
 have battled for this restrictive system an
 who have benefited the commonwealt
 through their efforts.
 The question for us to consider, it seem
 to me, is, Has the time for further restrit
 tion come? Are we ready to say wit
 sister commonwealths who have made tri,
 of the system and have found it eminent
 successful, as is shown by abundant test
 mony, that we are ready to adopt what believed to result Tn the greatest possib
 restriction of this traffic? >
 The tendency of our age, in all soci
 problems, $ to deal with causes rathe
 than with results. We are becoming mo,
 and more scientific in our treatment of th
 various questions concerning the publ
 welfare which confront us. The question
 which you hear discussed nowadays al
 such as these l: How shall we presery
 health How shall we prevent disease
 How shall we reach the source of insanit and of crine2 How shall we, in short, b reaching and remedying the causes of ali lease insanit v crir1n and rounor;oro ,,~