The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-01-31
PrOhibitOry Law a. Seen by Different
Men,

In Hillsboro, at the present time,
there is much to call forth an expression
of opinion on the virtues of prohibitory
law. The village ordinance against sa-
looms has been severely criticised; call
ed visionary measure; imperative
in that more liquor has been sold since
its passage than formerly. These OBJ
jections have been repeatedly replied to.
But We are glad to be able to call atten-
tion to the opinion Of such a man as
Hon VIM. A. Johnson, OF Kansas. Mr..
Johnson is Associate Justice of the State
Supreme Court and President of the
State Bar Association. He says:
81 know and appreciate the prevail
ing sentiment OF the people OF the State
with regard to these provisions of our
present organic law, and which they re-
gard with special affection and unyield.
ing admiration; but the time has arriv-
ed when we can all say with confidence
that the three bulwarks--homestead ex-
emption, limitation upon State indebt.
edness and the Prohibition Amendment
are safe and perpetual with any body
of men who could possibly be selected
as delegates to a Constitutional Conven.
ton. They may be said TO be as much
part of our political system as the right
OF trial by jury or the freedom Of speech.
No fear need be apprehended that the
representative men who may be chosen
to frame anew our organic law will ever
disgrace the well. ll.known wishes of the
people by any interference with provis
ions that are so we'll settled in our State
Constitution as to be taken out of the
region of discussion."
From the same State We have the fol-
lowing utterance from Gov. Martin, who
was formerly opposed to prohibitory
law. He says:
THE abolition of the saloons has not
only promoted the personal happiness
and general prosperity of our citizens,
but it has enormously diminished crime;
has filed thousands of homes, where
vice and want and wretchedness once
prevailed, with peace, plenty and con.
tentment; and has materially increased
the trade and business of those engaged
in the sale OF useful and wholesome ar
ticles of merchandise. Notwithstanding
the fact that the population of the State
Is steadily increasing, the number OF
criminals confined in our penitentiary
is steadily decreasing. Many OF our jails
are empty, and all show marked fall
Ing off in the number Of prisoners con-
fined. The dockets of our courts are no
longer burdened with long lists of crimi.
nal cases. In the capital district, con.
tanning a population OF nearly 10000,
not single criminal case was on the
docket when the present term began.
The business of the police courts of our
larger cities has dwindled to one-fourth
Of it's former proportions, while in cities of
the second and third class the occupa-
tion of police authorities is practically
gone. These suggestive and convincing
facts appeal alike to the reason and con-
science of the people. They have rec
onciled those who doubted the success
and silenced those who opposed the
policy Of prohibiting the liquor traffic."
If the results in Kansas are as set
forth by these men under general law.
surely the people OF Hi!isboro will be
able to reap no small benefit from the
maintenance of the local law of the vii
lage. Those who violate the law are
simply criminals, and those who wink
at the violation are aiding and abetting
those who are disregarding the will of
the people and the law of the land. If
the will of the majority of the people is
to be the law Of the land, then we fear
lessly predict that those who disregard
that will, will come to grief at no dis.
tant day.